Fabrication of micro-nanocomposite coatings with lotus leaf like texture by combining electroless and candle soot depositions

A facile method has been developed through this study to mimic the lotus-leaf-like texture over the aluminum surface. Cylindrical shaped copper coatings were formed initially on the aluminum surface by electroless deposition. Then, the electroless modified aluminum surface was sooted with a candle flame to get the hydrophobic carbon nano-particles. The resultant superhydrophobic micro-nanocomposite coating showed identical lotus-leaf like texture with a water contact angle of 174 degrees.