Not simply repel water: the diversified nature of corrosion protection by superhydrophobic coatings

New mechanisms of the anticorrosion action of superhydrophobic coatings (SHCs), additional to electrolyte repellency, namely, the suppression of adsorption of aggressive ions, the barrier effect of a modified surface layer, and the specific charging of a hydrophobic layer in electrolytes, are considered and illustrated by the electrochemical behavior of an SHC on aluminum alloy in KCl solutions.