Hybrid silicon dioxide–carbon nanotube superhydrophobic surfaces: Great wear resistance and excellent de-icing capability

•In order to solve the defects of poor wettability and mechanical durability of alloy surface coatings, SiO2 coatings with added carbon nanotubes were prepared in this study, and the ratio of carbon nanotubes to SiO2 was regulated to give the coatings the best wettability and mechanical durability. We have analyzed the morphology, wettability, mechanical durability, self-cleaning ability and icing resistance of the superhydrophobic coatings with the addition of carbon nanotubes. Mg-Al-Mn-Cu alloys with excellent specific strength and good formability are well suited for structural components of automotive battery boxes, but their poor resistance to icing and water resistance limit their practical application. In this work, a biomimetic superhydrophobic coating (inspired by the micro- and nanoscale papillary structure of the lotus leaf) was designed and prepared using a two-step spraying method. And we compared the hydrophobicity and mechanical durability of SiO2 and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) at different ratios, and found that at a ratio of 2:1, the coatings have a very large water contact angle (>160°) and a very small roll angle (around 8°), as well as excellent mechanical durability (super-hydrophobicity after several mechanical damages) and water repellency (droplet bouncing contact time of 33.4 ms). The addition of MWCNTs also gives the superhydrophobic coating excellent de-icing capabilities. This research provides a promising and simple way to effectively apply coatings in cold and wet environments.