Insights into the Self-Optimized Hydrophobicity of Cerium Oxide Surface under Impact Abrasive Wear

Cerium oxide (CeO2) is one of potential candidates of hydrophobic coatings servicing in harsh environments. In this letter, abraded CeO2 surface was prepared using sandblasting treatment to investigate the wetting mechanism under the condition of impact abrasive wear. The water contact angle (WCA) of the abraded surface increased from 62.8° to 93.7° after aging in ambient air for about 700 h. The hydrophobic self-optimisation mechanism of the abraded CeO2 surface is due to the hierarchical structure formed during impact abrasive wear and the surface adsorption of airborne hydrocarbon, resulting the wetting state changed from “Wenzel state” to “Cassie-Baxter State”.