Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Micro-Nanostructures on Pristine SLM-Ti Surfaces

Superhydrophobic surfaces are typically achieved through the synergistic integration of appropriate nanostructures and low-surface-energy chemical compositions. This study presents a novel and facile method for constructing a superhydrophobic hierarchical structure directly on a pristine selective laser melting (SLM) titanium surface. The intrinsic partially melted Ti particles, which are inherent to the SLM fabrication process, were strategically utilized as a natural microscale template for the in situ growth of TiO₂ nanotubes via electrochemical anodization. Three distinct micro/nano-topographies were successfully fabricated, integrating the spherical microparticles with either conventional TiO₂ nanotube arrays or separated nanotube arrays. The results demonstrate that the resulting superhydrophobic behavior can be effectively regulated by two key factors: the liquid-solid contact mode at the microscale and the strength of capillary action within the nanostructures. Notably, these characteristics can be tailored by controlling the nanotube diameter and intertubular spacing. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of micro-nano hierarchical structures in engineering superhydrophobic surfaces, thereby opening new avenues for advanced applications.