Synthesis of Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Surface through Electrochemical Deposition on Porous Alumina

The superhydrophobicity of plant leaves is a benefit of the hierarchical structures of their surfaces. These structures have been imitated in the creation of synthetic surfaces. In this paper, a novel process for fabrication of biomimetic hierarchical structures by electrochemical deposition of a metal on porous alumina is described. An aluminum specimen was anodically oxidized to obtain a porous alumina template, which was used as an electrode to fabricate a surface with micro structures through electrochemical deposition of a metal such as nickel and copper after the enlargement of pores. Astonishingly, a hierarchical structure with nanometer pillars and micrometer clusters was synthesized in the pores of the template. The nanometer pillars were determined by the nanometer pores. The formation of micrometer clusters was related to the thin walls of the pores and the crystallization of the metal on a flat surface. From the as-prepared biomimetic surfaces, lotus-leaf-like superhydrophobic surfaces with nickel and copper deposition were achieved.