Robust ZIF-8 based superhydrophobic coating with anti-icing, anti-corrosion, and substrate universality

The design of superhydrophobic materials based on zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIF) has attracted considerable attention due to their exceptional chemical stability, high specific surface area, and environmental friendliness. However, research in the fields of anti-corrosion and anti-icing remains in its infancy, and the mechanical stability of reported ZIF-based superhydrophobic surfaces is generally poor. In this study, we synthesized ZIF-8@PDA materials in an aqueous system and followed with stearic acid (STA) modification to achieve low surface energy, resulting in ZIF-8@PDA@STA. Subsequently, we applied a spray-coating method to sequentially construct WPU and ZIF-8@PDA@STA layer on aluminum alloy substrates, achieving a ZIF-8@PDA@STA/WPU superhydrophobic coating with exceptional mechanical stability. This coating retained its superhydrophobicity even after 5600 cm of abrasion distance. Furthermore, results from surface wettability, electrochemical and anti-icing tests demonstrated that the coated aluminum alloy exhibited excellent interfacial non-wetting, self-cleaning, anti-fouling, and significantly enhanced corrosion resistance and delayed icing properties. Additionally, the facile preparation of this coating on various substrates facilitates the large-scale application of such materials. The construction of this multifunctional ZIF-8 based superhydrophobic coating is expected to greatly expand the application of ZIF materials across diverse fields.