Fabrication of Ag nanoparticles on a Cu-substrate with excellent superhydrophobicity, anti-corrosion, and photocatalytic activity

The superhydrophobic surface of silver metal on Cu-substrate (Cu@Ag-SHS) is successfully fabricated via a chemical etching process having fern leaves-like morphology of the nanoparticles of silver metal. The fabricated product is characterized by PXRD, EDX, SEM, and XPS techniques. Moreover, electrochemical impedance and water contact angle (WCA, using Gonimeter) measurements are carried out. Cu@Ag-SHS contained unique properties such as long-term stability, super buoyancy force (as a drop of water could bounce from the balloon surface, thus presenting superb non-sticking properties), anti-corrosion properties, self-cleaning, anti-abrasion, and durability. Furthermore, photocatalysis properties of Cu@Ag-SHS were tested by the photodegradation of 4-NP into 4-AP.