Advanced Anticorrosive Coatings Prepared from the Mimicked Xanthosoma Sagittifolium-leaf-like Electroactive Epoxy with Synergistic Effects of Superhydrophobicity and Redox Catalytic Capability

Novel anticorrosion coating materials were prepared by replicating fresh plant leaves; these materials had a synergistic effect of superhydrophobicity and redox catalytic capability. Superhydrophobic electroactive epoxy (SEE) coating applied for corrosion protection was prepared and coated on the surface of cold-rolled steel (CRS) using a nanocasting technique from the surface structure of fresh Xanthosoma sagittifolium leaves. First, the transparent PDMS template was replicated from the surface structure of fresh Xanthosoma sagittifolium. Subsequently, the SEE coating was fabricated on the CRS electrode using a nanocasting technique with a transparent PDMS template and an electroactive-epoxy polymer solution as the ink. The CRS electrode coated with SEE was found to have a water contact angle (CA) of 153 degrees, which was significantly higher than the smooth electroactive epoxy (EE) coated on the CRS by spin coating (CA = 81 degrees). The SEE coating material not only shows superior water repellent properties but also has electroactive properties. It should be noted that the CRS coated with SEE was found to exhibit remarkably enhanced corrosion protection as compared to the corresponding CRS coated with a smooth counterpart, on the basis of a series of electrochemical corrosion measurements performed under saline conditions.