Corrosion-Resistant, Water-Repellent, and Anti-Icing Properties of the Fabricated Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surface (SLIPS) on TiO2 Nanotubes

Abstract

A durable slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) was fabricated on the TiO₂ nanotubes (NTs). First, TiO₂ nanotubes are processed on a titanium substrate via anodic oxidation. The anodized surface was then modified by ethanol, distilled water, and trimethoxy(propyl)silane (TMPSi) to reduce its surface energy. Krytox GPL 105 Oil was then infused on the prepared surface. The prepared samples were then characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), water contact angle measurement (WCA), polarization measurements, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses, and also some related tests regarding treatment stability and durability of the surface including water flotation, abrasion with SiC grit paper, adhesive tape peeling, and surface bending were carried out. Also, the anti-icing properties of the SLIPS sample were investigated. Water contact angle measurement confirms that titanium's anodic oxidation makes the surface more hydrophilic, reducing the WCA to 49°. By modifying the surface, the WCA reached 166° and the surface became superhydrophobic. After Krytox GPL 105 Oil infusion, the WCA decreased to 118°. test results indicate that the corrosion current densities measured for titanium, anodized titanium, and SLIPS titanium samples were 3.165 × 10⁻⁷, 1.884 × 10⁻⁷, and 7.053 × 10⁻⁸, respectively.