Fabrication of superhydrophobic nickel-aluminum bronzes using picosecond laser for enhancing anti-corrosion property

•Superhydrophobic NAB was efficiently fabricated using a picosecond laser.•With the increase of laser scanning intervals, the contact angles ranged from 163° to 155°.•NAB surface was superhydrophobic in the pH values range from 1 to 14.•The anti-corrosion property of NAB was improved. Superhydrophobic nickel-aluminum bronze (NAB) was prepared by picosecond laser and then exposed to atmospheric conditions for 14 days without any chemical treatment. It exhibited excellent wetting properties with contact angles (CAs) greater than 163° and sliding angels (SAs) less than 3°. Different scanning intervals have a significant influence on the transformation of wettability. With the increase scanning intervals from 30 μm to 100 μm, the CAs of the superhydrophobic NAB range from 163° to 155° and the SAs increase from 3° to 90°. And electrochemical corrosion tests results showed that when the scanning intervals were less than 80 μm, the anti-corrosion property of NAB was improved. Furthermore,the superhydrophobic NAB displayed the outstanding chemical stability in water of different pH values.