Electrochemical and mechanical properties of superhydrophobic aluminum substrates modified with nano-silica and fluorosilane

Nano-silica particles were deposited on acid-etched hydrophilic aluminum (Al) substrates by immersion in well-dispersed nano-silica aqueous suspension and tetramethylamonium hydroxide, followed by a heat treatment. The surface was then further treated by a reaction with fluorosilane. The hydrophobicity, surface morphology, and mechanical properties of the coated Al substrates were investigated, along with their electrochemical properties over...