Reversible wettability conversion of electrodeposited graphene oxide/titania nanocomposite coating: Investigation of surface structures

Graphene oxide/titania (GO/TiO2) nanocomposite have been successfully prepared by a simple method and deposited on the surface of aluminum (Al) by the electrophoretic deposition method. The effect of thermal annealing on wettability of GO/TiO2 coating has been investigated. According to the obtained results, the water contact angle (WCA) increased with an increase in annealing temperature which may be attributed to the regulation of coating from superhydrophilic (WCP approximate to 5 degrees) to superhydrophobic (WCA approximate to 0148 degrees) via thermal annealing. Moreover, the superhydrophobic coating was changed to a superhydrophilic one by using ultraviolet irradiation and this effect was reversible by heat treatment. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.