A　hierarchical　micro-/nanostructure,　consisting　of　nano-sized　Fe2O3　needles　vertically　grown　on　the　{1　1　1}　facets　of　micro-octahedral　Fe3O4　particles,　has　been　successfully　prepared　on　the　surface　of　N80　steel　using　hydrothermal　treatment　followed　by　annealing.　The　nanoneedles　were　transformed　from　nanoparticles　on　the　micro-octahedral　facets　under　the　influence　of　mixed　acetone　and　acetic　acid　gas　atmosphere,　and　the　length　of　nanoneedles　can　be　controlled　by　the　annealing　time.　The　superhydrophobic　Fe2O3/Fe3O4　composite　surface　with　water　contact　angle　(WCA)　of　157.3°　and　sliding　angle　(SA)　of　8.1°　was　obtained　after　decorated　with　stearic　acid.　The　influence　of　the　annealing　time　on　the　surface　morphology　and　hydrophobicity　was　explored　and　optimized.　The　superhydrophobic　surface　displays　great　self-cleaning　and　anti-corrosion　performances　with　good　mechanical　robustness.　This　method　opens　a　new　venue　towards　preparing　micro-nanostructures　on　the　surface　of　metallic　materials　for　enhanced　anti-corrosion　and　self-cleaning　applications.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.