Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity

Superhydrophobic surfaces repel water so effectively that droplets bead up and roll off with minimal contact, a behavior that emerges from the interplay between surface chemistry and microscale or nanoscale texture rather than from chemistry alone. Researchers study how to engineer and replicate these properties, drawing heavily on biological models such as lotus leaves and water-strider legs, with practical aims ranging from self-cleaning coatings and anti-icing materials to membranes that selectively separate oil from water. A central challenge is durability — nanotextured surfaces that perform beautifully in the lab often degrade under mechanical wear, UV exposure, or fouling in real-world conditions. Active work focuses on designing hierarchical surface architectures that are both robust and scalable to manufacture, as well as understanding the precise wetting transitions that determine when and why liquid repellency breaks down.

Works

76,594

Total citations

1,950,334

Keywords

Superhydrophobic SurfacesBioinspired DesignWetting and SpreadingSelf-Cleaning CoatingsOil/Water SeparationNanotextured Surfaces