Bionic eco-friendly synergic anti-scaling Cu-Zn-CeO2 coating on steel substrate functionalized by multi-scale structures and heating enhanced adsorption.

[Display omitted] • A bionic multi-scale structured Cu-Zn-CeO 2 coating was fabricated. • It transforms from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic after heating and storage in air. • Wettability transition is due to hydrocarbons adsorption, heating and multi-scale structures. • The hydrophobic CeO 2 improves the superhydrophobicity and reduces the transition time. • Synergy of the superhydrophobicity and Cu-Zn alloys enhances the anti-scaling property. Scaling is a universal issue encountered in pipeline steel during offshore oil extraction. In this paper, a synergic anti-scaling Cu-Zn-CeO 2 coating on the pipeline steel substrate was fabricated by one-step composite electrodeposition and magnetic stirring. It shows the wettability transition from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic of the multi-scale structured Cu-Zn-CeO 2 coating without low-surface-energy modification after heating at 60℃ for 60 min and stored in air for ∼ 35 days. The wettability transition is owing to the hydrocarbons adsorption. The heating treatment and the multi-scale structure improve the hydrocarbons adsorption and reduce the transition time. The inherent hydrophobic CeO 2 is beneficial for the superhydrophobic property and reduces the transition time. Compared with the steel substrate and previous superhydrophobic Cu and Cu-Zn coatings, it indicates the superhydrophobic Cu-Zn-CeO 2 coating shows the promising synergic anti-scaling property due to its superhydrophobicity and the anti-scaling property of Cu-Zn alloys. This eco-friendly synergic anti-scaling Cu-Zn-CeO 2 coating also shows excellent self-cleaning and anti-fouling properties. Moreover, the stability of the superhydrophobic Cu-Zn-CeO 2 coating was enhanced compared with our previous superhydrophobic Cu-Zn coating due to CeO 2 nanoparticles. This research enriches the theory and the technology of the wetting field, which also provides a technical basis for solving scaling problems of pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]