A non-particle and fluorine-free superhydrophobic surface based on one-step electrodeposition of dodecyltrimethoxysilane on mild steel for corrosion protection

•An environmentally friendly superhydrophobic film was constructed on mild steel for corrosion protection.•The superhydrophobic film could greatly improve the anti-corrosion performance of the substrate in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution.•The superhydrophobic film exhibited long-term stability even after stored indoor for one year. In this work, non-particle and fluorine-free superhydrophobic films were constructed on mild steel (MS) for corrosion protection by one-step electrodeposition from dodecyltrimethoxysilane (DTMS)-contained precursor solution. The superhydrophobicity was achieved by the generated micro/nanostructure of hydrophobic DTMS during electrodeposition. The superhydrophobic films exhibited long-term stability to air atmosphere. The protective performance in 3.5 wt. % NaCl solution was estimated by potentiodynamic polarization technique, by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, by monitoring water contact angle changes and by iron dissolution examination. The results show that the superhydrophobic films exhibit remarkable enhanced anticorrosion performance for MS with a promising inhibition efficiency of 99.74%.