Stable method for electrodepositing network-like magnesium hydroxide layer with superhydrophobicity and enhanced surface performance under structure direction of xanthan gum/glycerol

[Display omitted] •Hight stable method for electrodepositing network-like magnesium hydroxide superhydrophobic layer under structure direction of xanthan gum/glycerol.•Strategy of strengthening the xanthan gum network by cross-linking with glycerol.•Permission of tremendously wide range of reaction conditions such as bath temperature xanthan gum/glycerol dissolving temperature and storage time. Investigation of magnesium hydroxide superhydrophobic layer would significantly improve the application of green and low-cost superhydrophobic materials, for the abundant source, low economic cost, nontoxicity and environment friendliness of magnesium hydroxide. In this work, an obviously developed method which is stable and easy for fabricating network-like magnesium hydroxide superhydrophobic layer on iron substrate has been rendered, simply by cathodic electrodeposition with magnesium nitrate aqueous solution under structure direction of glycerin cross-linked xanthan gum, and subsequent surface modification with 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane. The preparation process could be carried out at tremendously wide range of bath temperature (from 15 °C to 75 °C), xanthan gum/glycerol dissolving temperature (from room temperature to 100 °C), and storage times (from 0 day to 30 days). The superhydrophobic layer obtained at 35 °C bath temperature with addition of xanthan gum/glycerol dissolved at room temperature and stored for 7 days, shows strong water repellency (160.1° water contact angle, 3.2° sliding angle), and excellent self-cleaning performance. The layer also demonstrates good mechanical property according to cross hatch adhesion and tape peeling test, and owns an inhibition current efficiency as high as 99.98%, taking advantage of its extremely high anti-corrosion resistance (Rct = 2.87 × 105 Ω cm−2, Rf = 1.49 × 109 Ω cm−2).