Fabrication of biomimetic hydrophobic Ni coating by Brush plating technique

Inspired by microstructure characteristics of lotus leaves surfaces, the biomimetic hydrophobic Ni coating has been fabricated by brush plating technique. The surface morphology, chemical composition, and wettability of the Ni coating were obtain by scanning electronic microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and water contact angle measurement. The result indicated that the Ni coating exhibit typical hierarchical structure, which is similar to the morphology of lotus leaf. The wettability property of the Ni coating was transformed from hydrophilicity to excellent hydrophobicity (water contact angle 146°) without any chemical modification. The work also illustrated that the biomimetic structure which like lotus leaf endows the Ni coating an excellent wettability property.