Facile electrodeposition of corrosion-resistant superhydrophobic Ni-plated stainless-steel mesh for oil–water separation

A simple constant-potential electrodeposition process was used to manufacture a superhydrophobic Ni-plated stainless-steel mesh (SNSSM) with high corrosion resistance and chemical stability for oil–water separation. This novel Ni plating had a mountain-like micro/nano structure. This resulted in a rough surface that was modified with stearic acid (SA) to provide a good superhydrophobicity as well as remarkable corrosion resistance, chemical stability, and oil–water separation. The effects of the electrodeposition potential and time on the microstructural evolution , wettability , and corrosion resistance were discussed. The SNSSM obtained by deposition at − 2.0 V for 60 min and modifying the surface with SA, had a water contact angle (WCA) of 156.5° and an oil contact angle (OCA) of 0°. The corrosion current density of the superhydrophobic coating in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution was 1.737 × 10 −8 A/cm 2 . The plating remained superhydrophobic after 96 h of immersion in the NaCl solution and maintained its superhydrophobicity in an environment with pH= 2–12. The SNSSM exhibited high separation efficiency and separation flux for mixtures of oil or organic solvents with water. In addition, it continued to exhibit a separation efficiency > 94.0% and stable reusability even after 30 cycles of separation.