Creating gradient wetting surfaces via electroless displacement of zinc-coated carbon steel by nickel ions

Highlights: • A facile and low-cost chemical immersion method was used to create a full gradient wetting surface. • The surface morphology, composition, wetting behaviors and stability were studied. • The as-prepared superwetting surfaces exhibit excellent self-cleaning and wax prevention properties. • This method has great prospect in superwetting areas. Gradient wetting surfaces are getting increasing attention due to their wide application in multiple fields such as droplet movement and biosorption. However, the fabrication processes of full gradient wetting surfaces are still complex and costly. In present work, a facile and low-cost chemical immersion method was used to create a full gradient wetting surface. By controlling the displacement time in Ni²⁺ solution, the prepared surfaces perform hydrophilic to superhydrophilic. After being modified by stearic acid, the gradient hydrophilic surfaces convert into hydrophobic. The surface morphology, composition, and wetting behaviors of the as-prepared surfaces were systematically studied and discussed. The gradient wetting property could be attributed to the change in microroughness and surface energy. In addition, these surfaces also exhibited excellent self-cleaning and wax prevention properties. Furthermore, high stability and corrosion resistance were also found for these surfaces, which further highlight their promising practical applications in many fields.