Superhydrophobic surfaces for corrosion protection: a review of recent progresses and future directions

Due to their superior water-repelling effects, superhydrophobic surfaces have received increasing attention as a promising solution to corrosion of metallic materials. The present article introduces the fundamental theories behind superhydrophobicity followed by a comprehensive review of the recent progresses of this rapidly growing field over the past 5 years. A critical discussion over anticorrosion mechanisms of superhydrophobic surfaces is also provided. For many realistic applications, future efforts are pressingly demanded to prolong the corrosion resistance of these superhydrophobic surfaces. To this end, several important strategies and examples in designing stable, self-healable, or inhibitor-loaded superhydrophobic surfaces are discussed.