Bioinspired Nanoengineering of Multifunctional Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Nature, such as plants, insects, and marine animals, uses micro/nano-textured surfaces in their components (e.g., leaves, wings, eyes, legs, and skins) for multiple purposes, such as water-repellency, anti-adhesiveness, and self-cleanness. Such multifunctional surface properties are attributed to three-dimensional surface structures with modulated surface wettability. Especially, hydrophobic surface structures create a composite interface with liquid by retaining air between the structures, minimizing the contact area with liquid. Such non-wetting surface property, so-called superhydrophobicity, can offer numerous application potentials, such as hydrodynamic drag reduction, anti-biofouling, anti-corrosion, anti-fogging, anti-frosting, and anti-icing. Over the last couple of decades, we have witnessed a significant advancement in the understanding of surface superhydrophobicity as well as the design, fabrication, and applications of superhydrophobic coatings/surfaces/materials. In this talk, the designs, fabrications, and applications of superhydrophobic surfaces for multifunctionalities will be presented, including hydrodynamic friction reduction, anti-biofouling, anti-corrosion, and anti-icing.