A novel and facile approach was proposed to fabricate superhydrophobic surface with similar micro- and nanostructures of lotus leaf on the steel foil. The acidic solution was used to grow Fe3O4 nanosheet films consisted of hydrochloric acid and potassium chloride under an O-2 rich environment. The as-prepared superhydrophobic steel surfaces had water CA (contact angle) of 166 + 2. The water SA (sliding angle) was less than 2 degrees. In order to estimate the drag reduction property of the as-prepared surface, the experimental setup of the liquid-solid friction drag was proposed. The drag reduction ratio for superhydrophobic surface was 61.3% compare with untreated surface at a flow velocity of 1.66 m s(-1). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.