The present work shows a new contribution to the design of superhydrophobic surfaces with the additional function of active corrosion protection, through the encapsulation of inhibiting agents.

A novel one-step sol–gel electrochemistry route to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces is presented. High roughness and low energy surfaces were obtained simultaneously during the formation of long-chain alkyl-grouped alkoxysilane films via electrochemically assisted deposition. Furthermore, significantly improved thermal and chemical stabilities and mechanical properties of the superhydrophobic surface were achieved by the incorporation of silica.

A new approach for the local deposition of sol–gel films on conducting and insulating surfaces using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) via the feedback and direct modes is presented. Patterning is based on enhancing sol–gel condensation by altering the local pH due to water electrolysis as a result of applying negative potentials.

A Ti-supported IrO ₂ or RuO ₂ coated electrode with significantly improved electrocatalytic activity for the OER was fabricated using a highly porous electrodeposited silica film as the interlayer. The highly porous morphology ensures its high activity. The “inter-locking” structure between the active oxide layer and SiO ₂ film prolongs its life.