Fabrication and Characterization of Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Dynamic Stability

Abstract Superhydrophobic surfaces of dynamic stability are crucial for applications in water‐repellent materials. In this work, a hierarchical structure composed of a dendritic microporous surface with nanostructured porosity is demonstrated that shows robust superhydrophobicity with dynamic stability. The hierarchical structures are obtained on both copper foils and wires by a dynamic gas‐bubble template‐assisted electrochemical deposition method. The substrates can then be modified with alkyl thiols to obtain the surface superhydrophobicity. A new kind of testing, mechanical monitor‐assisted continuous water surface strokes, is developed to reveal the dynamic stability of the as‐prepared superhydrophobic copper wires. The as‐prepared superhydrophobic copper wires can exert a high propulsive force, and particularly, show little adhesive force in the process of continuous strokes on the water surface, exhibiting robust superhydrophobicity with dynamic stability. The approach allows a strategy for the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces with dynamic stability, and suggests a new method to evaluate the dynamic stability of superhydrophobic surfaces.