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[Display omitted] • A novel strategy is proposed to achieve long-term underwater superhydrophobicity. • The designed surface can work as capillaries to absorb gas spontaneously. • The plastron recovery process requires no energy input or intervention. • Plastron can be recovered within 0.6 s and withstand a pressure of 4 bar. • The designed surface achieves good drag reduction performance (27.2%). Superhydrophobic surfaces have the ability to trap gases underwater. The entrapped gas, known as plastron, has demonstrated potential for many non-wetting-related applications. However, the plastron is fragile and inevitably vanishes due to challenging real-world environmental factors. Current methods for plastron regeneration require continuous matter or energy input, such as gas injection, chemical reaction, electrolysis, boiling, and control of solubility, which are difficult to fabricate at scale and require constant monitoring of the plastron. Here, we demonstrate a novel capillarity method to replenish the plastron. Inspired by the Lotus rhizomes that survive underwater, a superhydrophobic capillarity mesh surface (SCMS) that can act as capillaries to absorb gas spontaneously is presented. The SCMS enables rapid plastron self-recovery within 0.6 s and extends the plastron lifespan to at least 60 days without intervention or energy input. Furthermore, we extend this method to deep-water environments by adding a diving bell. The plastron of SCMS with capillary effect can withstand at least a pressure of 4 bar. Experimental results indicate that SCMS can recover its drag reduction effect after plastron loss. This capillarity strategy may enable previously unattainable underwater applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The hierarchical random pyramid (HRP) PDMS film exhibited a transmission enhancement of 14% in the range of 300–800 nm. • The HRP PDMS film demonstrates light-trapping, with a 17% improvement for oblique incidence angles (50° to 80°) compared to flat PDMS film. • The HRP PDMS film exhibited an excellent hydrophobic self-cleaning effect and remarkable stability against abrasion and scratching tests. We developed a hierarchical random pyramid (HRP)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film as an antireflective layer for metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To create the HRP structure on the PDMS surface, we first patterned the Si surface using alkaline etching and Ag-assisted chemical etching (Ag-ACE) and then transferred the pattern onto the PDMS surface. The resulting PDMS exhibited hierarchical structures of inverted micro-pyramids with nano-scale surface features. The optical performance of the textured PDMS film was observed across the entire wavelength range of visible light (λ = 300–800 nm), attributed to the enhanced light-trapping effect resulting from the increased fractal dimensions (D f) of the hierarchical nanostructures. Under optimal conditions, an average reflectance of 3.13 % was observed, along with a 14 % improvement in transmittance compared to that of the reference. Finite difference time-domain simulations were used to investigate the origins of these optical enhancements, conclusively linking them to the HRP structures. The optimized structures also showed superhydrophobicity with a contact angle (θ CA) of approximately 155.2°. When applied to PSCs (MAPbI 3), the optimized textured PDMS film led to a 12 % increase in short-circuit current density (J sc) from approximately 23.1 to 25.98 mA/cm2. Furthermore, the power conversion efficiency of the MAPbI 3 p-i-n structured devices was enhanced by 18.21 %, representing a 13 % improvement. Our results confirm that the HRP-PDMS film enhances superhydrophobicity and light trapping, while mitigating the transmittance loss due to changes in the incident angle. This study suggests potential strategies for overcoming the limitations of light absorption in solar cell applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Inhibiting metal corrosion is a critical aspect for environment sustainability. • A bioinspired oleogel-infused surface inhibits Mg-Li alloy corrosion. • Oleogel-infused surface shows high self-healing capability. The production of metals is an essential process to contribute carbon dioxide emission. Being exposed in natural and industrial environment, metal endures corrosion, which in turn leads to significant material loss. Thus, protecting metal from corrosion is not just a matter of material preservation but also a critical aspect for promoting environmental sustainability. Acting as a barrier, traditional organic coating is widely adopted to prevent metal from corrosion. However, over time, the coating degradation contributes to the growing problem of microplastic pollution. Given these concerns, the challenge lies in developing sustainable, environmentally friendly methods for protecting metals from corrosion. Bioinspired slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) has emerged as advantageous solutions for corrosion protection. In this study, firstly, a bioinspired superhydrophobic coating is constructed onto a highly active Magnesium-lithium (Mg-Li) alloy via a one-step electrodeposition. Following that, an edible beeswax-sunflower seed oil is used to form a composite oleogel-infused surface (OIS), one category of SLIPS. Traditional characterization, such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and sophisticated X-ray computed tomography (X-CT) reveal the detailed microstructure and composition of the coatings. The corrosion resistance of OIS surfaces significantly surpasses that of superhydrophobic surfaces, as evaluated by scanning Kelvin probe (SKP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and potentiodynamic polarization curve. The OIS exhibits a high corrosion inhibition efficiency of 99.99%, far exceeding that of the superhydrophobic surface. Furthermore, the OIS demonstrates self-healing capability, with waxy components undergoing phase transition to repair surface damage caused by scratching. This environmentally sustainable biomimetic coating affords versatility and long-term corrosion protection for Mg-Li alloy, paving a new way for their extensive utilization in various fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fluoride-free superhydrophobic MWCNTs/epoxy coating was prepared for deicing. • The coating has excellent superhydrophobicity and durability. • The coating significantly extended the freezing time of water droplets. • The coating has excellent photo/electrothermal response for rapid deicing. • Ice droplets change from Wenzel state to Cassie state under photo/electrothermal. Ice accumulation on wind turbine blades poses a significant threat to the efficiency and safety of wind turbines, necessitating urgent solutions through effective anti-icing/deicing strategies. In this study, superhydrophobic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/epoxy coating for anti-icing application was developed. The coatings exhibited super photothermal and electrothermal response by integrating the superhydrophobic capability of MWCNTs, which are ideal for all-weather anti-icing/deicing applications. The superhydrophobic coating in the ratio of MWCNTs/epoxy resin 1:4 exhibited a water CA of 154.3° and SA of 5.7°, respectively. The temperature of the superhydrophobic coating increased to 45.4 °C (300 s) and 89.5 °C (200 s) at 1.5 sun and 25 V, respectively. The coating exhibited a static delayed frost time of 1790 s and achieved photothermal fast defrosting (1.5 sun, 237 s) and electrothermal fast defrosting (25 V, 35 s), respectively. Furthermore, it demonstrated delayed icing times of 988 s, 579 s, and 264 s at − 10 °C, −15 °C, and − 20 °C, respectively. The coating showed efficient abilities of photothermal fast deicing (1.5 sun, 175 s) and electrothermal fast deicing (25 V, 65 s) as well. The superhydrophobic coating restored the Cassie-Baxter state after melting ice droplets into water droplets through photothermal and electrothermal stimulation. Moreover, the superhydrophobic coating demonstrated exceptional dynamic anti-icing performance even in a low-temperature and humid environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Construction of the micro-structural photothermal superhydrophobic (156°) composite coatings. • Narrow forbidden bandwidth (3.62 eV) for ideal photothermal performance (69.4 °C at 200 mW/cm−2 irradiation intensity). • Active-passive anti-icing strategies for photothermal and superhydrophobic. Conventional superhydrophobic surfaces have limitations in the melting and icing process in response to ambient temperature. In this study, we fabricated a composite coating using plasma-etched black ceramic as a low layer on the surface of AZ31 magnesium alloy, and loaded-polydimethylsiloxane nanoparticles (PDMS NPs) as a top layer to achieve a photothermal and superhydrophobic anti-icing. The absorbance and forbidden bandwidth of the ceramic layer exhibit the excellent photothermal properties of solid solution (Mg 1-X Cu X O). The ceramic phase exhibits a bandgap of 3.62 eV and achieves a temperature of up to 69.4 °C, demonstrating desirable light absorption and photothermal properties. The microstructure and polar bonds of Si-O-Si provide excellent superhydrophobic properties, allowing the surface contact angle to reach 156°. The wetting of water droplets on the composite coating's surface is simulated using molecular dynamics, which is consistent with experimental findings and emphasizes the coating's exceptional superhydrophobic. Additionally, the transition process between Cassie-Baxter and Wenzel was analyzed by researching the dynamic icing and ice-melting processes. This composite surface converts light energy into heat, melts snow/ice, and uses hydrophobicity to promptly desorb it from the surface, enabling a photothermal active and superhydrophobic passive anti-icing strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Prepared superhydrophobic copper layer by LISM and atmosphere-induced hydrophobicity. • The superhydrophobic copper layer is also super-ethanophilic. • Copper layers with different wettability are obtained by adjusting laser parameters. • This superhydrophobic copper layer can be repaired. • The ethanol detection array can be used for single-droplet ethanol detection. Ethanol is widely used in life and ethanol solutions with different concentrations have different uses, so it is important to detect ethanol concentration. Currently, methods for judging ethanol concentration according to the wetting of droplets on the surface of materials are gradually emerging. However, there are still problems, such as the need for measurement equipment, poor accuracy, and cannot be reused. Herein, a novel strategy was proposed to prepare a superhydrophobic (water contact angle = 155.4°) and super-ethanophilic (ethanol contact angle = 5.2°) copper layer on polymer substrate by laser-induced selective metallization (LISM) and atmosphere-induced hydrophobicity, which can be used for single-drop ethanol detection. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric analysis − Fourier transform infrared − gas chromatography − mass spectrometry showed that when the rough copper layer prepared by LISM was exposed to air, it spontaneously oxidized and adsorbed airborne volatile organic compounds gases to become a superhydrophobic copper layer. The superhydrophobic copper layer obtained by this strategy has good durability. In addition, the superhydrophobic copper layer has excellent repair ability. The ethanol detection array prepared based on this superhydrophobic copper layer can be used to perform single-droplet ethanol detection. The array does not require any equipment and only needs to read the number of droplets in the wetted grid in the 20–70 % ethanol solution concentration range, showing great potential in the field of ethanol detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart temperature-adaptive superhydrophobic radiative cooling CFs were created through a nanoengineering design strategy by a simple and scalable layer-by-layer spraying method. These wearable materials can switch dynamically between white and colorful in response to temperature variations, modifying solar spectrum reflectance and absorptance to manage cooling and heating, achieving energy-efficient and intelligent temperature control for winter warming and summer cooling. [Display omitted] • Smart radiative cooling superhydrophobic CFs-based materials were fabricated. • The wearable materials contain a thermochromic layer and a radiative cooling layer. • The wearable materials inherit the favorable characteristics of collagen fibers. • The STSRC-CFs can switch dynamically between white and other colors. • This work attains smart temperature regulation for winter warming and summer cooling. As traditional biomaterials for wearables, collagen fibers (CFs)-based products are widely used in daily life due to their exceptional performance. However, developing CFs-derived products that exhibit seasonal self-adaptive temperature regulation to satisfy the thermal comfort for humans and prolong their service life remains a significant challenge in practical applications. Herein, the smart temperature-adaptive superhydrophobic radiative cooling CFs (STSRC-CFs) were created through a nanoengineering design strategy by a simple and scalable layer-by-layer spraying method. The STSRC-CFs inherit the outstanding properties of natural CFs and maintain high tensile strength (18.2 MPa), air permeability (38.2 mL/cm2∙h), and superhydrophobicity (CA of 161.1°, SA of 2.0°). Moreover, STSRC-CFs possessed a thermal emittance of 0.94, while the solar reflectance could be dynamically modulated in response to the ambient temperature change with a solar reflectance of 0.91 at high temperatures and 0.81 at low temperatures. The synergic effect enables STSRC-CFs to autonomously manage radiative cooling and solar heating, thereby achieving intelligent energy-saving temperature regulation for winter warming and summer cooling. Notably, the superhydrophobic self-cleaning effect of STSRC-CFs prevents from contamination, ensuring sustained spectral modulation and intelligent temperature regulation. Serving as a proof-of-concept for intelligent self-adaptive passive temperature regulation, the STSRC-CFs introduced in this study lay the groundwork for the development of advanced temperature-adaptive radiative cooling and solar heating functional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Up-/down-converting fluorescent superhydrophobic materials were designed. • The coating combines excellent superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties. • Superior photo-thermal conversion properties enhance the coating's resistance to icing. • The light conversion and light scattering functions expand the light distribution area. • ER-CDs/MMT coating provide a maximum increase in stem length of up to 100.74 %. Agricultural coatings play a crucial role in addressing the global food crisis by significantly improving the plant growth environment, accelerating plant development, and enhancing the biological quality of plants. Nevertheless, there exist constraints in the form of limited sunlight utilization, decreased light transmission caused by surface icing leading to diminished plant photosynthesis, and high cost. In this study, a cost-effective and readily scalable superhydrophobic photothermal light-conversion coating is suggested as a means to improve the light conditions necessary for optimal plant growth. By employing in situ growth of carbon dots (CDs) on the surface and interlayers of montmorillonite (MMT) and hydrolytic polymerization of fluorinated alkyl silane (FAS) on the surface of MMT, light-converting superhydrophobic materials (CDs/MMT) with a micro-nano structure were synthesized. These materials demonstrated broad-spectrum fluorescence emission suitable for utilization by plant photosynthesis. They were dispersed into an epoxy resin (ER) matrix to obtain an agricultural superhydrophobic coating (ER-CDs/MMT). The "light absorption-capture-conversion" effect confers exceptional passive anti-icing and active de-icing properties upon the coating. Furthermore, outdoor planting experiments have demonstrated its capacity to substantially enhance the light environment and enhance the biological quality of soybean and morning glory by leveraging light scattering and conversion characteristics. This underscores its considerable potential for application in the next generation of facility agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Precisely adjusting surface adhesion of superhydrophobic interfaces has been achieved via surface embedding of particles with mixed shapes. • The rolling-off angle of a 10 μL droplet on as-prepared surfaces can be precisely adjusted from 0.5° to 45.7° with average resolution of 3.5°. • The fluid/interface interacting model of particles with mixed shapes has been proposed and calculated. • A series of gravity-based fluid manipulation based on the adhesion-tunable superhydrophobic surface has been demonstrated. Designing intelligent superhydrophobic surfaces with versatile surface properties has garnered scholarly attention in field of heterogeneous catalysis, lab-on-chip, water harvesting, etc. However, the precise modulation of fluid adhesion on superhydrophobic surfaces, particularly when being applied as coatings, remains a challenge. Here we employ a "glue + powder" method for the fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces with tunable droplet adhesion by embedding microparticles with mixed shapes. By adjusting the mixing ratio of rod-like and spherical particles, the sliding angle of superhydrophobic coating can be facilely controlled as well as the underwater bubble holding ability. During the dewetting process, the difference in the contact line lengths between micro-rod and micro-sphere contributes to the varying droplet adhesive force from 43.7 μN to 109.4 μN, which corresponds to the rolling-off angle change of a 10 μL droplet from 9.6° to 45.7°. Furthermore, by mixing fumed silica with branched structure, the lowest range of the rolling-off angle adjustment can be extended down to 0.5°, showing a precise and universal strategy for tuning the surface adhesion. On the basis of the meticulous manipulation of surface adhesion, controlling processes of single droplet and droplets accumulation can be fulfilled, with implications for enhancing the functionality of current superhydrophobic materials. Taking the advantage of the convenient and reliable fabrication method, a series of demonstration including manual droplet holders, multi-tiered droplet capturing interface, droplet sieving platforms, and gravity-driven droplet reactors has been realized. We envision that the precise control of droplet adhesion on superhydrophobic materials should further provides substantial opportunities for innovating fluid manipulation systems possessing heightened operability and multifunctionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• SZS gauzes consisted of superhydrophobic outer/inner layers and a ZIF8 interlayer. • SZS-2 gauze showed optimal air and water permeability and blood absorption. • SZS-2 gauze showed excellent cytocompatibility and effective antibacterial ability. • SZS-2 gauze showed complete in vivo biosafety and antibacterial effect. Medical gauze is commonly used in clinical practice due to its low irritation, flexibility, and permeability. However, conventional gauze frequently lacks adequate antibacterial and anti-adhesion properties, and gauze that is only superhydrophobic or antibacterial seldom meets the full requirements of infected wound treatment. In this work, we report optimal air permeability, water and blood absorption, and biocompatibility, and effective antibacterial properties of a sandwich-structured gauze composed of a superhydrophobic outer layer, a zeolite imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF8) interlayer, and a superhydrophobic inner layer containing blood-drainage channels (denoted SZS gauze). Three ZIF8 interlayers, ZIF8-1, ZIF8-2, and ZIF8-3, were prepared by soaking medical gauze samples in a mixed solution of 50 mL methanol, 50 mL ethanol, and 0.25, 0.50, or 1.00 g zinc acetate before flat drying, and had Zn content of 0.28, 0.34, and 0.46 at.%, respectively, and their corresponding SZS gauze samples are denoted SZS-1, SZS-2, and SZS-3, respectively. Among all gauze samples, the SZS-2 showed the highest cytocompatibility toward L929 cells and effective in vitro antibacterial ability against E. coli and S. aureus. In a rat subcutaneous inflammation model, the SZS-2 showed complete biosafety and the best antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects against E. coli and S. aureus mixed bacteria among all gauze samples including standard medical gauze and a sandwich-structured gauze with a blank interlayer between two superhydrophobic layers. These findings indicate that the SZS-2 gauze is a promising candidate for advanced wound care, particularly in the management of infected wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A biodegradable surface with a micro-nano hierarchical structure was developed by combining in situ nano fibrillating melt blowing process and one-step surface etching. • The optimized micro-nano hierarchical structure endows the surface with stable superhydrophobic performance. • The surface with optimized micro-nano hierarchical structure showed excellent self-cleaning and oil–water separation performance. It is a challenge to prepare fluorine-free superhydrophobic surfaces by simple methods. In this work, a simple and effective method for constructing a superhydrophobic surface was developed by combining in situ nanofibrillating melt blowing processs and one-step surface etching. Firstly, the randomly stacked meltblown microfibers as microstructure transformed the wetting performance of the surface from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. Then, by tuning the etching time, the outmost nanofibrils within the microfibers were exposed to form nanostructure thereby achieving superhydrophobic performance with a contact angle of 153°. The superhydrophobicity of the as-prepared nonwoven was maintained after various harsh treatments, such as strong acid, strong alkaline, sandpaper abrasion, and ultrasonic washing, showing stable water repellency ability. In addition, the superhydrophobic nonwoven showed promising application in self-cleaning and oil–water separation. Thus, this work not only prepares a superhydrophobic surface but also proposes a new idea for designing a micro-nano hierarchical structure on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The flexural fibers endow the CCT with an intrinsic stretchability of 40% strain. • The CCT exhibits stable EMI SE of 51.7 dB even after 1000 cycles of 100 % strain. • The CCT keeps good air permeability, softness and lightness even after modifications. • The excellent superhydrophobicity enables the CCT to tackle complex environments. • The Joule heating imparts the CCT outstanding thermal management capability. Conductive composite textiles (CCTs) as multifunctional integrated platform provide an effective path for developing flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding composites. However, conventional CCTs suffer from EMI shielding performance failure or the loss of textile's intrinsic properties under large tensile strain. Hence, in this work, a stretchable EMI shielding CCT that retains the inherent attributes of textile is proposed via weft-knitting and in-situ chemical Ag deposition. The complete and continuous silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) conductive networks bring excellent conductivity (38560 S/m) and ultrahigh EMI shielding performance (80.1 dB) in unstretched state. When tensile strain is applied, the fibers are gradually straightened from flexural state within 40 % strain, and then begin to be stretched at bigger strains, which benefits from the weft-knitting structure. Therefore, the conductive networks on the fiber surfaces are well protected from damage in the initial 40 % strain range, resulting in a stable EMI shielding performance (51.7 dB) even after 1000 cycles of 100 % tensile strain. Crucially, the CCT preserves good air permeability, softness and lightness even though a series of modifications and tensile strains are applied. Other than the EMI shielding perforamnce, the excellent superhydrophobicity (the contact angle of 158°) imparts the textile with the capability to tackle complex environments easily. Moreover, the textile can readily be heated to 73.4 °C at a low voltage of 0.5 V, showing outstanding Joule heating performance. Even after a long period of heating (3600 s), the textile maintains superior thermal stability, indicating potential applications in wearable heaters. In brief, this multifunctional CCT has excellent comprehensive properties and is expected to further expand the applications of EMI shielding textiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Developed a molecular dynamics model for the conversion of PEI into graphene. • Ethanol and plasma treatment alter wettability by altering the surface groups of LIG. • Ethanol and plasma modified LIG form a superwetting Janus membranes. • Asymmetric Janus membrane achieves on-demand oil–water separation. • The EtOH-LIG surface with electrothermal property achieves anti-icing/de-icing. Superwetting functional surfaces based on laser-induced graphene (LIG) have a wide range of applications in many fields. However, single wettability LIG films are difficult to respond to complex and changing environmental conditions. Despite the large number of experiments were carried out to demonstrate the formation of LIG, there is a lack of studies on the process and formation mechanisms of LIG. In this study, the conversion of PEI to graphene was systematically investigated by both experimental and molecular dynamics simulations. A new method for obtaining Janus membranes with both superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity by ethanol and plasma treatment of LIG is proposed. The asymmetrically superwetting Janus membrane are shown to realize the on-demand controllable separation of light oil–water and heavy oil–water. In addition, the superhydrophobic LIG is used as a coating material with excellent electrothermal properties, which provide the performance of anti-icing and electrothermal de-icing. The asymmetrically superwetting Janus membranes prepared by the proposed simple and environmentally friendly method are shown to have a variety of prospective applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The FCNCT achieved excellent stretchability, water-repellency, and conductivity. • The synergistic coupling effect simultaneously enhanced strain sensing performance while achieving superhydrophobicity. • The FCNCT can reliably monitor full-range human behaviors under amphibious environments. • The influence of water on its sensing performance has been deeply studied when the waterproof sensor worked in water. Superhydrophobic and conductive textile-based composites exhibit significant potential for detecting human behavior in amphibious environment. However, the achievement of superhydrophobicity by the incorporation of hydrophobic insulating micro-nanoparticles often impairs their electrical conductivity and strain-sensing capabilities, hindering practical applications. Herein, we developed a long-lived fluorinated carbon nanodot-line/microfiber coupling textile (FCNCT) that is simultaneously excellent stretchability, water-repellency, and conductivity. Such textiles utilize the synergistic effects of the zero-dimensional carbon black, one-dimensional carbon nanotubes, and polyvinylidene fluoride components, ensuring superior sensitive strain detection while maintaining a robust superhydrophobic surface. Importantly, the FCNCT exhibits remarkable strain-sensing properties, including a wide linear sensing range (strain ∼ 120%), high sensing sensitivity (gauge factor ∼ 9.4), low detection limit (strain ∼ 0.5%), and fast response/recovery time (100/150 ms). These features enable FCNCT to reliably monitor full-range human behaviors across various conditions-dry, wet, and underwater. This textile-based composite holds great promise in advancing the development of wearable electronic textiles in amphibious environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This superhydrophobic coating also presents high infrared transmittance. • Great durability of superhydrophobicity is achieved. • It shows both self-cleaning and radiation cooling for diverse applications. Capturing thermal radiation using highly infrared (IR)-transparent materials have drawn great attention for diverse applications, such as IR guidance, IR detection, thermal radiation imaging, radiative cooling etc. However, the previously reported IR-transparent materials have the bottleneck of lacking superhydrophobicity, resulting in the degradation due to the dust, fog, rain, frost outdoors. Here, a durable IR-transparent superhydrophobic coating is reported via the spraying of polyester (PE) microspheres and fluorinated ZnS nanoparticles (NPs). Due to the high transmittance of ZnS and PE, the coating shows excellent IR transparency (around 90 %) in 8 ∼ 14 μm thermal IR band. Benefitting from the robustness of 3D connected PE network, the coating maintains superhydrophobicity after 180 cycles of linear wearing under 6 kPa. Moreover, the water jetting/atomizing/dust tests indicate that this coating effectively ensures the high accuracy of IR imaging lens under rainy/foggy/dusty environments. This coating on fabrics also achieves a remarkable radiative cooling effect for outdoor conditions to keep human body comfortable. With its facile preparation and versatile features, this coating has great potential on IR window, IR imaging and personal thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crude oil spill at sea has a significant impact on the balance of the entire ecosystem. To address this issue, a multi-functional crude oil adsorbent is fabricated. It has the ability to heat the sponge through photothermal conversion during the day and recover crude oil through electrothermal conversion at night.This dual-energy mode of the absorbent enables continuous offshore oil collection day and night, protecting the marine environment. [Display omitted] • Ppy and MXene were co-wrapped on skeleton of melamine sponge. • The designed PDMS-P/M n @PMS has synergistic photothermal and electrothermal effect. • PDMS-P/M n @PMS maintained outstanding hydrophobic performance under harsh environment. • Property of vacuum-assisted crude oil recovery can adapt to the practical application. Offshore oil leakage can cause huge economic losses and seriously disrupt the ecological balance. A novel approach to all-weather recovery of crude oil with high viscosity is achieved through day and night workto ensurefaster recovery. Herein, polypyrole (Ppy) covalently integrated with MXene nanosheet was connected to the melamine sponge (MS) by physico-chemical cross-linking method, exhibiting a crude oil absorbent with outstanding photothermal and electrothermal conversion performance (78.9 ℃ under 1.0 kW/m2, 62.3 ℃ in 5 V). The stable superhydrophobic surface (WCA≈153.4°), combined with the dual-energy conversion properties of absorbent provides the synergistic effect for efficient crude oil recovery performance. This is demonstrated by the fact that the maximum surface temperature can be heated to 87.0 ℃ in 3 min, and the absorption weight of crude oil to be improved to 14.26 g in 10 min. Additionally, the Ppy/MXene-wrapped sponge has high thermal stability and flame-retardant properties. Therefore, this functional absorbent has promising way for the disposal of offshore crude oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A proton donor-assisted deprotonation-induced roughening (PAIR) method is developed. • An ultradurable superhydrophobic and anti-icing aramid fabric is prepared. • "Rough-surface-on-intact-core" texture is constructed by the top-down method. • High durability comes from in situ densely packed acicular nanostructures. • The fabric presents enhanced buoyancy, high chemical resistance and flame retardancy. Essential requirements of protective clothing with multi-scenario practicability deserve intensive attention. Aramid fabric is widely used to protect industrial and outdoor workers operating under various hazardous conditions but is susceptible to fouling, subzero cold water and icing, resulting in severely deteriorated protective properties. However, the chemical inertness of aramid fabrics limits their further functionalization. This issue is addressed herein by developing a novel top-down strategy to construct an intrinsic densely packed acicular nanostructure on the surface of aramid fiber through the proton donor-assisted deprotonation-induced roughening (PAIR) method. The PAIR treatment consists of extracting hydrogen protons from the amide moiety and controllably dissociating the outer shell of the aramid fibers without destroying its hard-core structure. Such a "rough-surface-on-intact-core" texture endows the fabric with greatly enhanced water repellency, anti-icing and anti-fouling properties without sacrificing its impressive mechanical properties, moisture permeability and flame retardancy. Remarkably, the treated fabric can load 37 times its own weight in water, presenting an increased buoyancy and demonstrates an icing delay time of 1920 s, which is 1150 % that of a pristine aramid fabric. Featuring the easy processability, high endurance and multiple functions, the fabric is promising for applications in personal protective equipment and advanced functional textiles with multiple tasks under harsh weather events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Using shredded FPC membranes for the degradation of methylene blue wastewater. • The degradation rate of FPC membranes reached 99.5% within just 8 min. • HFPC membrane has the characteristics of long-lived, efficient and robustness. • Adsorption-bags made with HFPC membrane wrapped polyurethane sponges. • Adsorption-bags can continuously and rapidly separate large-scale oil–water mixtures. Superhydrophobic oil–water separation membranes have aroused widespread research interest as ideal candidates for treating oily wastewater. However, this type of membrane has difficulty simultaneously balancing the removal of organic matter in complex oily wastewater and achieving large-scale continuous oil–water separation. Herein, FeOOH/polydopamine/cotton (FPC) membranes with significant photocatalytic properties were prepared via the deposition of a complex formed by mineralizing polydopamine and Fe3+ on a cotton-based surface. Further modification with long-chain hexadecyltrimethoxysilane constructed multipurpose superhydrophobic hexadecyltrimethoxysilane/FeOOH/polydopamine/cotton (HFPC) membranes. The heterogeneous photo-Fenton system built from clipped FPC membranes rapidly degrades methyl blue pollutants with a 99.5 % degradation rate. Notably, HFPC membranes maintain exceptional superhydrophobicity even after enduring various severe damages, including 1000 sandpaper abrasions/hammer blows, 5 min running water impact, 12 h chemical immersion, 24 h UV aging, and 5 months of outdoor weathering. Additionally, HFPC membranes have separation efficiencies up to 99.5 % and continuous separation as long as 15 min, making them especially suitable for large-scale oil absorption. Long-lived nanoparticle-embedded membranes offer fast photocatalysis, long-lasting robustness, high separation efficiency and flux. Meanwhile, it has the advantages of large-scale continuous oil absorption, repeatability, low cost, and sustainability. This work merges rapid photocatalysis and efficient oil–water separation technologies, bringing a new breakthrough in expanding the multifunctional membrane field and opening a new door for the future development of related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A stable wearable piezoresistive sensor with a laminated pattern was designed. • The sensor simultaneously achieves effective pressure sensing and self-power supply. • The sensor combines both hardness and softness for reliable sensing properties. • The sensor retains superhydrophobicity even subjected to mechanical/chemical damage. Wearable piezoresistive sensors have great potential in motion monitoring, health detection, and virtual reality. However, such sensors have difficulty maintaining long-term and stable sensing performance in complicated conditions such as wetting, corrosion and without external power supply. Herein, we integrated a stable wearable piezoresistance sensor (SWPS) with sandwich-like laminated structure, which consists of a flexible superhydrophobic conductive material, a rigid superhydrophobic material, conductive coil and magnetic composite materials which is used to provide magnetic field. SWPS achieves simultaneously effective pressure sensing and self-power supply. Importantly, such sensor maintains outstanding superhydrophobicity even when exposed to mechanical or chemical damage, such as cyclic compression, impact and wetting erosion, ensuring the reliable and long-lasting sensing performance. Our design strategy could also guide the development of other wearable sensor materials that need to retain long-term sensing performance in harsh operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A mechanically stable superhydrophobic coating of crosslinked PVB-HDI polymer was fabricated. • The crosslinking enhanced not only the coating-substrate binding but also the stability of the coating matrix. • The coating exhibited a self-healing ability in superhydrophobicity against O 2 plasma etching. Sustainable superhydrophobicity is of significance for practical application of superhydrophobic coatings. We fabricated a mechanically stable superhydrophobic coating with self-healing performance by spray-coating a composite suspension of poly(vinyl butyral)-hexamethylene diisocyanate and octadecylamine (PVB-HDI/ODA) on various substrates. In the as-obtained composite, PVB-HDI formed 3D self-crosslinked polymer networks which not only impart the coating with high mechanical stability but also provide strong bonding force between the coating and the substrate, and ODA formed pedal-like structures which roughened the coating surface with low surface energy. Consequently, the coating possessed superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle up to 163.9° and a sliding angle lower to 1.0°. Notably, the as-obtained coating sustained its water repellency even after being exposed to various mechanical and chemical treatments. Moreover, the coating exhibited a self-healing ability in superhydrophobicity against O 2 plasma etching. Such mechanical and chemical stabilities with self-healing ability are favourable to the superhydrophobic coating to prolong the lifespan for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Several novel silsesquioxane-based giant molecules are prepared • Hydrophobicity of epoxy acrylate can be greatly improved by giant molecules • Coatings offer self-cleaning, oil-water separation and anti-corrosion functions First, several fluorinated silsesquioxane-based giant molecules (G-SQs) were easily prepared by the photo-initiated thiol-ene click reaction of octa(mercaptopropyl)silsesquioxane (SH 8 -SQ) with monovinyl(heptatrifluoropropyl)silsesquioxane (CF 3 -SQ) and perfluorohexyl ethylene with varying stoichiometric ratios. Then, G-SQs were used as low surface energy substances to modify epoxy acrylate resin (EA), which allowed adhesion to different substrates to prepare hydrophobic coatings via photo-initiated thiol-ene click reaction. The hybrid coating can impart stable superhydrophobic properties to cotton fabrics, which possess self-cleaning and oil–water separation function. The cotton fabrics coated by G-SQs-EA can perform oil–water separation very well, whose oil–water separation fluxes and efficiencies are 34,000 L m−2 h−1 and 99 %, respectively. The hybrid hydrophobic coating also provides effective corrosion protection for copper and the corrosion protection effect is further improved by increasing coating thickness. The corrosion current density, corrosion rate and impedance (0.01 Hz) reached 1.17*10−2 μA·cm−2, 0.14 μm yr−1 and 1026 kΩ cm−2, respectively. These excellent results indicate that EA coating modified by G-SQs has potential applications in many fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superhydrophobic photothermal membrane is prepared by combining breath figure and spray coating methods for anti-icing/deicing. [Display omitted] • Preparation of polymer membranes based on breath figure and spray method. • The effect of porous structures prepared with different humidity on light absorption ability. • The membrane has a high photothermal conversion rate. • This membrane also has good anti icing performance at extremely cold temperatures (−30 °C). Removing surface ice accumulation on a large scale through solar energy is a promising solution. However, preparing excellent superhydrophobic materials quickly and easily is a challenge. Here, we propose a simple method for preparing superhydrophobic photothermal membranes for anti-icing/deicing. Preparation of porous PMMA membrane as substrate using breath figure. Then, a layer of MWCNTs modified by FAS is sprayed on the surface of the PMMA membrane to obtain a photothermal superhydrophobic membrane. PMMA@MWCNTs membrane has: (1) excellent superhydrophobicity (WCA = 157°, SA ≈ 1.7°); (2) excellent photothermal effect (the surface temperature of the sample quickly reaches 80.9 ℃ within 120 s under one sunlight intensity); and (3) good surface stability. Therefor it is expected to achieve excellent anti-icing and de-icing capabilities outdoors. For example, significantly prolonging the freezing time of water droplets (1175 s), rapid deicing (160 s), defrosting (521 s), and excellent dynamic anti-icing performance（ΔM = 0.0049 g). This study is of great significance for designing a new type of simple and large-area anti-icing membrane, providing the possibility for its application in complex working environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The multifunctional conductive HPCF was prepared using a layer-by-layer deposition method. • The resulted HPCF possess great superhydrophobic and flame retardancy. • The obtained HPCF can transmit distress signals and realize water rescue. • The HPCF shows rapid detection response for flame within 1 s. • The smart fabric is useful for multifunctional wearable electronic textile. Smart fabrics provide considerable inspiration for the construction of wearable electronic devices due to their excellent skin affinity and breathability. However, the limited tolerance to high humidity environments and the flammable nature of fabrics impedes broader practical applications. In this paper, by an advanced and effective method, phytic acid doped (PA-) polyaniline (PANI) was polymerized in-situ on cotton fabric deposited by carbon black (CB), and then modified by non-fluorine hydrophobic particles, a flexible breathable fabric-based strain sensor (HPCF) with ultrahigh moisture resistance, flame retardancy and environmental resistance was successfully prepared. The obtained sensor shows high sensitivity (16.14 kPa−1) in the detection range of 0–2 kPa, fast response/recovery time (82/40 ms) and high cycle stability (>10,000 cycles). Thanks to its excellent hydrophobicity (WCA = 153°) and flame retardancy properties, the material enables the detection of human movement (such as finger/wrist/elbow/knee/foot movement) under a variety of harsh conditions (extremely high temperatures, underwater, acid, alkali, salt and blown sand environments). More importantly, it can be further applied to remote detection of potentially dangerous scenarios. HPCF can successfully transmit the Morse code signals of "SOS" and "HELP" sent by drowning people, and realize water rescue. In case of fire, it serves as a fire warning sensor to realize agile (1 s) fire alarming. The highly sensitive and versatile HPCF fabric sensor enables physical condition monitoring for fire and rescue personnel working in high temperature and humidity environments, which is of great value for all human activities carried out in harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cellulose-based superhydrophobic surfaces with CuS nanoparticle were prepared. • Superhydrophobic surfaces exhibited excellent photothermal performance. • The actuators based on superhydrophobic structures showed rapid light-driven motion. • The Marangoni effect and vapor jet flow were the motion mechanisms of the actuators. Among stimuli-responsive actuators, light-driven hydroplaning actuators have attracted significant attention because of their controllable and contactless nature. However, manufacturing actuators with rapid dynamic responses to a single stimulus remains challenging. Herein, inspired by rove beetles and water striders, we developed superhydrophobic light-driven actuators based on the in situ growth of copper sulfide on cellulose nanofiber and subsequent modification with octadecyltrimethoxysilane. The actuators exhibited excellent superhydrophobicity (water contact angle of 160.6°) and the water contact angle was maintained above 150° under various harsh conditions (acid/base immersion, ultraviolet irradiation, heat treatment, and sandpaper abrasion). Under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation (808 nm, 1.4 W cm−2), excellent photothermal performance was achieved, with a photothermal-induced temperature change of 81.0 °C. Based on the mechanisms of superhydrophobicity, the Marangoni effect, and vapor jet flow, the light-driven actuators exhibited a rapid dynamic response (response time of 0.5 ± 0.2 s), ensuring fast linear motion (velocity of 8.7 ± 0.7 mm s−1) and flexible rotation (angular speed of 2.4 rad s−1) under NIR irradiation. Moreover, complex motions such as S-shaped, triangular, and circular motions were achieved by combining linear motion and rotation, which could facilitate obstacle avoidance, smart transportation, and contactless delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A fractal-patterned coating is designed for superhydrophobicity and passive cooling. • The coating is fabricated by plasma electrolytic oxidation and hydrothermal treatment. • The coating with high emissivity enhances the passive heat dissipation efficiency. • The coating has robust water-repellence, self-cleaning and anti-corrosion properties. Effective surface passive cooling and superhydrophobicity is vital for promoting more flexible application of energy power system for aircraft and aerospace. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a fractal-patterned coating on TA15 titanium alloy for superhydrophobic and passive cooling performance through plasma electrolytic oxidation and hydrothermal treatment successively. The coating exhibits excellent corrosion resistance and self-cleaning properties, largely thanks to the fractal structure and low surface energy. Additionally, the micro-hole's infrared trapping effect and TiO 2 lattice absorption significantly increase the emissivity over the thermal wavelength range. When functioned on a titanium radiator, such a coating can reduce the temperature by as much as 9.3 °C. Therefore, the passive heat dissipation and superhydrophobic multi-functional coatings are expected to be a promising candidate for heat exchange equipment that requires exposure to harsh external environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Brief introduction about superhydrophobic surfaces and self-healing superhydrophobic surfaces. • Recent and different fabrication techniques and methods are reviewed. • Discussion of current challenges and future developments. Some plants and insects exhibit superhydrophobicity in nature. Inspired by this, many researchers have designed superhydrophobic surfaces by studying the structures of those plants and animals. Hence, man-made superhydrophobic surfaces have gained tremendous interest because they can be used in diverse fields. Superhydrophobicity occurs by combining micro-/nanoscale rough structures with low surface energy materials to produce a water-repelling surface. However, superhydrophobic surfaces have not been able to be used in real life applications because of their poor durability and short life span. Self-healing is a good strategy to increase the resilience and life span of a superhydrophobic surface. It has been suggested that embedding a superhydrophobic surface with a self-healing ability will extend the lifespan of the surface for practical applications. A lot of reviews talk about superhydrophobic surfaces but very few discuss self-healing superhydrophobic surfaces. In this review, recent progress in the fabrication of self-healing superhydrophobic surfaces, characterization, applications of superhydrophobic surfaces and different methods for fabrication are discussed. Also, some ideas for the way forward on future researches are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A superhydrophobic and conductive nanofiber composite (SCNC) is prepared. • The SCNC possesses SiO 2 /graphene shell and polymer nanofiber core. • The SCNC possesses good anti-corrosive performance. • The SCNC strain sensor shows high stretchability, sensitivity and good durability. • The SCNC strain sensor can be used for full range detection of human body motions. It is desirable and still challenging to develop flexible, breathable and anti-corrosive wearable strain sensors with high stretchability and sensitivity that can realize full range body motions. Here, a superhydrophobic and conductive nanofiber composites (SCNCs) with a hierarchical SiO 2 /graphene shell and polyurethane (PU) nanofiber core microstructure were fabricated by assembling graphene on PU nanofibers under the assistance of ultrasonication, followed by stretching-induced SiO 2 nanoparticles decoration onto the graphene shell. The introduction of graphene and SiO 2 nanoparticles improves both Young's modulus, tensile strength and the elongation at break of PU nanofibrous membrane. The superhydrophobicity and conductivity can be almost maintained after the SCNCs are subject to cyclic stretching or abrasion or even exposed to harsh conditions. When used as strain sensors, the SCNCs show high stretchability, reliability and good durability and can be used in harsh environment including acid and salt conditions. The SCNCs are then assembled to monitor full range body motions including both subtle and large body movements, making it a promising candidate in wearable electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biomimetic stainless-steel surfaces were prepared by laser etching and modification. • MD simulations suggested the PDA@ODA compounds how to adsorb on the substrate. • The results of MD simulations were consistent with experimental data. • The surfaces presented superhydrophobicity, antibacterial property and stability. Wettability is an effective strategy to reduce the adhesion force between bacteria and a solid surface, also is favor to effectively overcome the limitation of the substrate materials and expand their practical applications. Herein, inspired by the special micro/nano structures of the creatures and the bioadhesion of marine mussels, a green and simple two-step method, the laser interference patterning and in-situ polymerization, was used to fabricate the superhydrophobic surface with antibacterial property on the stainless-steel (SS) substrate. As well, this patterned surface also has successfully realized the wettability transition from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic. Meanwhile, the results of MD simulations directly suggested the PDA@ODA compounds how to adsorb on the SS substrate and interact with water molecules, which was consistent with the experimental. In addition, according to the agar plate assays and fluorescent microscope tests, the obtained specimens presented a certain antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the samples had good robustness in the heat resistance, physical performance and durability, which will expand the application fields and working life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Wood aerogels are shape-memory, anisotropy, robustness, and superhydrophobicity. • 2D aerogel membranes show high separation efficiency and flux by gravity-driven. • 3D bulk aerogels show reusable oil absorption capacity by shape-memory function. • Wood aerogels combine filtration and absorption functions for oil/water separation. Traditional oil/water separation materials can be divided into two types on the basis of their separation behavior: filtration materials (e.g., meshes, textiles, membranes, etc.) and absorption materials (e.g., sponges, foams, and aerogels). Both types of materials have advantages and disadvantages. Combining the filtration and absorption functions into one and the same material for oil/water separation applications presents a challenge. Prompted by the highly oriented porous structures and anisotropic architectures of wood and its hygro-responsive characteristic, two-dimensional (2D) membrane and three-dimensional (3D) bulk aerogel materials with water-responsive shape memory function, anisotropy, robustness, and superhydrophobicity are prepared using top-down wood nanotechnology for multibehavioral (absorption and filtration) and reusable oil/water separation. Wood aerogel is obtained by partially removing hemicellulose and lignin. Further, it is superhydrophobically treated using a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/curing agent system. As-prepared wood aerogel/PDMS bulk materials possess high oil absorption capacity (about 20 g/g) and can be reused because of their fast water-responsive shape memory function. The prepared wood aerogel/PDMS membrane materials can efficiently separate oil/water mixtures with high separation efficiency (99.5%) and flux (around 2.25 × 104 L/m2·h) by only the driving force of gravity. Top-down wood nanotechnology is low-cost, facile, scalable, green, and efficient, exhibiting potential for application in multibehavioral oil/water separation and ability to handle industrial oily wastewater and oil spillage accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Superhydrophobic coatings were fabricated with edible waxes via one step spray process. • The resulted surface can repel not only water but also various non-Newtonian viscous food liquids. • The superhydrophobic surface exhibited excellent resistance to repeated bends and several abrasion damages. • The coating can be applied to all kinds of food packaging inner surface. Superhydrophobic coatings were fabricated with edible candelilla wax and rice bran wax via one step spraying a wax-in-ethanol hot solution on polypropylene (PP) substrates for food containers. Beautiful "flower-like" surface microstructures were formed only by self-roughening of the coating without adding any nanomaterials or any lithography step, making the coatings display great superhydrophobicity for a variety of non-Newtonian viscous liquids with contact angles higher than 150° and sliding angles close to 0°. The as-coated PP can keep excellent superhydrophobic properties after impact from hot aqueous solution (about 70 °C) or 1200 repeated bends, exhibiting good heat resistance and superior flexibility. Importantly, the excellent durability could make it super-repel non-Newtonian fluids after various types of damage (including finger touching and multiple abrasion cycles with sandpaper). This approach can be applied to the inner surface of all kinds of food packaging to reduce liquid food residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The SMF was fabricated by a facile, eco-friendly and cost-effective method. • The SMF exhibited excellent oil sorption capacity and outstanding recyclability. • The SMF could selectively absorb and continuously separate oils from water. • The SMF could separate both immiscible oil/water mixture and water-in-oil emulsion. Abstract Superhydrophobic polymer sponges have attracted considerable attention recently as promising sorbent materials for oil/water separation due to their excellent sorption capacity and high selectivity. Although many hydrophobic modification methods for sponges have been reported, it is still challenging to hydrophobic modification of sponge in green, facile and inexpensive manner. In this study, we reported a facile, non-fluorinated, environment friendly, cost-effective and scalable method for hydrophobic modification of melamine-formaldehyde sponge (MF) with water-based acrylic copolymer/silica hybrid superhydrophobic coating (WPAC). The as-prepared superhydrophobic melamine-formaldehyde sponges (SMF) showed excellent oil sorption capacity towards the various oils/organic solvents, up to 78–172 times of its own weight and outstanding recyclability after 30 cycles of absorption-squeezing-heating. Additionally, the SMF can be utilized as high efficient oil pollutant removal device for continuous oil/water separation with the assistance of a peristaltic pump. More importantly, the SMF was capable of separating both immiscible oil/water mixture and surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions. By virtue of the merits in fabrication method as well as the advantages in oil/water separation, the as-prepared SMF have a promising application in the field of oil spills treatment and environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The coating remains excellent adhesion by adjusting the ratio of ZnO to epoxy resin. • The coating has a small amount of abrasion loss at a load of 170 g. • The coating remains superhydrophobic property with a wear distance of 210 cm. • The coating has excellent corrosion resistance as the double layer ZnO structure. Abstract Superhydrophobic coatings have been applied in various fields because of their advantages such as self-cleaning, drag reduction, dustproof, anti-icing, corrosion resistant etc. However, in this study, a new idea imitating the process of growing grass was proposed to solve the low adhesion, weak wear resistance and poor corrosion resistance of the general superhydrophobic coatings: the ratio of epoxy resin to ZnO seeds were strictly controlled so that ZnO seeds are not completely coated. On this basis, a cluster-like ZnO coating composed of interdigitated ZnO rods was prepared. After modification with stearic acid, the coating exhibited superhydrophobic properties with a contact angle of 163° and the coating showed excellent abrasion resistance and noticeable robustness. Due to the barrier from both epoxy resin/ZnO seeds and cluster-like ZnO, the coating performed excellent corrosion resistance. At the same time, the cluster-like ZnO/epoxy resin coating prepared like seeds rooting has good firmness and can be adapted to various harsh environments such as tape peeling, friction between objects, etc., which can expand the application of the superhydrophobic coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A bio-inspired flexible and superhydrophobic fabric is prepared for electromagnetic interference shielding. • The conductivity of the composite fabric could reach 4000 S/m. • The composite fabric possesses a high specific shielding effectiveness of 209.6 dB cm3 g−1. • The excellent EMI shielding performance could be maintained after multiple abrasion and cyclic bending tests. Abstract Electromagnetic pollution often causes disturbances to nearby electronic apparatus and also severely threatens people's health, and it is therefore urgent to develop electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials. However, preparation of EMI shielding materials with lightweight, good flexibility, superior corrosion-resistance, excellent EMI shielding performance remains challenging. Here, a facile method is proposed to prepare flexible, superhydrophobic and highly conductive polymer composite fabrics for the EMI shielding. The polydopamine (PDA) is first decorated onto the fabric surface, and the functional groups in the PDA could promote the Ag precursor adsorption. The electrically conductive PP fabric becomes superhydrophobic and anti-corrosive after further treatment with a fluorine containing molecule. The average shielding effectiveness (SE) and specific SE (SSE) of the composite fabric could reach as high as 48.2 dB and 209.56 dB cm3 g−1 at the frequency of 8.2–12.4 GHz, respectively, which could even be maintained after the composite fabric undergoes cyclic abrasion and bending tests. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic surface ensures the reliability of the conductive fabric as shielding materials when they are used in harsh conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A novel superhydrophobic Al 2 O 3 /cerium hexadecanoate double-layer coating was designed. • The composite coating was fabricated by combining plasma electrolytic oxidation and electrodeposition. • The high emissivity double-layer surface enabled a significant LED temperature drop. • The composite coating showed superior self-cleaning, anti-corrosion and adhesion strength. Abstract To enhance the heat dissipation and anti-corrosion performance simultaneously, a superhydrophobic Al 2 O 3 /cerium hexadecanoate (Al 2 O 3 /CH) composite coating with high adhesion strength has been fabricated by plasma electrolytic oxidation and subsequent electrodeposition. The Al 2 O 3 /CH composite coating with a contact angle of 165.5° shows excellent water repelling and self-cleaning ability owing to the micro/nano structure and low surface energy. The composite coating enhances the corrosion potential of pure Al from −0.742 to −0.730 V and lowers the corrosion current density by two orders of magnitude. Thanks to the high emissivity in the wavelength range from 2.5 to 25 μm, the Al 2 O 3 /CH coated sample enables the operation temperature of a 5 W LED to drop approximately by 9.3 °C compared with Al substrate. In addition, the Al 2 O 3 /CH composite coating exhibits higher adhesion strength than that of the CH single layer. Therefore, the superhydrophobic coating is expected to be a promising candidate for heat dissipation and anti-corrosion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The secondary reactions of the TA- APTES coating has been investigated. • (TA-APTES)-based materials exhibit better performance than PDA-based materials. • The reasons for the significantly improved performance have been revealed. Abstract Secondary reactions of surface coating are of great importance and have drawn great attentions, since it can make the coating as a versatile platform for different uses via tailoring surface properties. A good example is the polydopamine (PDA) coating which has been widely used for preparation of various functional materials owing to its secondary reactions. In our recent study, we have developed hierarchical tannic acid (TA)-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) coating with distinct layer-nanospheres structure. Herein, the secondary reactions of the TA-APTES coating has been investigated in detail. And for the first time, various (TA-APTES)-based functional materials including superhydrophobic, adsorbent, and catalytic materials have been prepared for oil/water separation, dye adsorption, and 4-nitrophenol reduction, respectively. Significantly, under the same conditions, the performance of the (TA-APTES)-based functional materials is much better than that of the PDA-based materials: (a) The adsorptive capacity of the (TA-APTES)-based adsorbent toward rose bengal, methyl bule, orange G, and amaranthus red is 80.1%, 96.2%, 86.1%, and 98.6% higher than that of the PDA-based adsorbent, respectively; (b) The (TA-APTES)-based catalytic material can reduce about 98% of 4-NP in 10 min, while the PDA-based material can only reduce 60% of 4-NP under the same conditions; (c) After reacting with octadecyltrimethoxysilane, the TA-APTES coating can be directly transformed into superhydrophobic coating for oil/water separation, while the PDA coating is only hydrophobic and cannot separate oil/water mixture. The reasons for the significantly improved performance of the (TA-APTES)-based materials have been revealed. Our findings demonstrate that the TA-APTES coating can act as an outstanding platform for preparation of various functional materials with preferable performance, and the TA-APTES coating will be a promising substitute for PDA coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • PDMS-co-PMHS coating is formed via hydrosilylation reaction. • PDMS-co-PMHS coating provides porous materials with superhydrophobic and superoleophilic characteristics. • PDMS-co-PMHS@SP possesses super oil adsorption capacity and excellent recyclability. • PDMS-co-PMHS@FP is applied to separate immiscible oil/water mixture. • PDMS-co-PMHS@GF membrane can remove oil from water-in-oil emulsions. Abstract Superhydrophobic/superoleophilic (SHBOI) porous materials have attracted significant interest in the field of oil/water separation, however, fabricating SHBOI porous materials though a low cost, one-step and simple strategy is still a great challenge. In this work, a facile approach is developed for scaling the production of SHBOI porous materials by the deposition of SHBIO PDMS-co-PMHS coating onto porous materials via a facile surface coating method without the use of nanoparticles and fluorinated compounds. Meanwhile, the PDMS-co-PMHS coating is constructed by hydrosilylation reaction between vinyl bonds of vinyl-terminated-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (VPDMS) and silicon-hydrogen bond of trimethylsilyl-terminated-poly-(dimethylsiloxane)-co-polymethylhydrosiloxane (TPDMS-co-PMHS), and simultaneously attached on various porous substrates including sponge (SP), fiber paper (FP), glass fiber (GF) membrane, etc. As a result, PDMS-co-PMHS coating provides SHBOI and excellent oil/water separation characteristics to the porous substrates. According to the results, PDMS-co-PMHS@SP possesses SHBOI characteristics, high oil-adsorption capacity (up to 143 times its original weight) and excellent recyclability. PDMS-co-PMHS@FP can efficiently separate a series of immiscible oil/water mixtures in a single-step based on its high oil or organic solvents fluxes (about 2000–3000 L.m−2.h−1) and SHBOI characteristics. In addition, PDMS-co-PMHS@GF membrane exhibits great water rejection (∼99.90%) for separating water-in-oil emulsions under gravity-driven condition. Thus, a new strategy employing PDMS-co-PMHS as a coating material to modify porous substrates has great potential for developing a scalable method of fabricating SHBOI porous materials for oil/water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The biomimetic films are prepared through replication of shark skin and SI-ATRP. • The biomimetic films have excellent superhydrophobicity. • The biomimetic films have self-healing property of superhydrophobicity. • Drag reduction rate of the biomimetic PDMS films surface can reach up to 21.7%. Abstract Nature has provided a lot of important inspirations for human beings to create artificial methods to mimic the excellent performance of biological systems. Based on the shark skin pattern microstructure, the low surface energy and stimuli-responsive behavior of the poly(2-perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate) (PFMA) brush, a biomimetic PDMS film with superhydrophobic, self-healing and drag reduction properties was prepared by first replication of shark skin surface on PDMS film, followed by treatment with surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) of FMA. The PFMA brushes can self-assemble into different hierarchical structures in ethanol or DMF, which make the biomimetic PDMS films show different contact angles. Having been damaged by finger-wipe with and without water respectively, the water repellency of the biomimetic PDMS films decreased. However, the surfaces recovered superhydrophobic property just by immersing the destroyed PDMS films into DMF which is good solvent for PFMA. The SEM images and XPS results demonstrated the changes of structure and chemical compositions of the biomimetic PDMS films surface in damage and self-healing processes. Rotational viscometer result showed the drag reduction rate of the biomimetic PDMS films surface can reach up to 21.7%. This research is expected to supply a novel method of controlling polymer brushes' self-assembly to prepare superhydrophobic and self-healing films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The superhydrophobic finishing strategy is environmentally-friendly and fluorine-free. • This system is suitable for multiple biomass fabrics by enzymatic hydrolysis etching. • The construction do no harm to colors and patterns of dyed fabrics. • This method can construct multifunctional fabrics for efficient self-cleaning and versatile oil-water separation. Abstract Superhydrophobic silk fabrics were prepared using an environmentally friendly enzyme-etching approach, followed by the modification with methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) via a simple thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process at 70 °C. The effects of the concentration, treatment time and temperature of enzyme on the etched surface properties were discussed. The composite superhydrophobic silk fabrics demonstrated excellent self-cleaning ability, relatively unscathed effecting their intrinsic properties such as the luster, softness, color and style of the fabrics. Furthermore, these treated fabrics demonstrated excellent mechanical durability after silane-treatment as evidenced by the cyclic abrasion and laundering tests. The composite superhydrophobic cotton fabrics have also demonstrated a high efficiency in oil-water separation. The facile technology via enzymatic hydrolysis to etch the substrate possesses extensive potential applications on various other cellulose-based substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Robust polymer coating was prepared by a novel method of thermal polymerization. • The coating consists of a large number of interconnected nano-globules. • The effect of porogenic content on the optical properties of coating was studied. • The coating achieves highly efficient cooling performance under direct sunlight. • The coating shows excellent anti-contamination property and stability. Passive radiative cooling (PRC) presents a promising strategy for reducing energy consumption by reflecting sunlight and radiating heat through atmospheric windows. Although extensive progresses have been achieved in efficient radiative cooling, it still faces several challenges that hinder its practical implementation, such as susceptibility to contamination, vulnerability to mechanical damage, and poor resistance to aging and corrosion. Herein, we report a robust superhydrophobic porous coating with nano-globules (SHPo-ME) for efficient all-day passive radiative cooling, which is thermal polymerized by Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and Ethylene dimethacrylate (EDMA). Due to the sufficient scattering by the nano-globule structures and the stretching vibration of the chemical bonds in the polymer, the SHPo-ME coating exhibits superior solar reflectance (97.6 %) and long-wave infrared emittance (98.3 %), realizing sub-ambient cooling of 8.4℃ under the solar intensity of 820 W⋅m−2 and 5.8℃ in the night. Moreover, the interconnected nano-globules increase the surface roughness, rendering the surface to exhibit remarkable superhydrophobicity with contact angle of up to 165° and sliding angle lowered to 2.4°. Importantly, the robust SHPo-ME coating possesses excellent self-cleaning ability, mechanical stability, recoverable superhydrophobicity, and anti-aging/anti-corrosion property. The as-prepared SHPo-ME coating can also be milled into powder and used as paint. This paint can be efficiently sprayed onto any arbitrary substrates on a large scale, demonstrating great potential for long-term outdoor application such as buildings, vehicles, electric equipment, and so forth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fe 3 O 4 modified with saturated long-chain fatty acid was successful for MPs removal. • Ingredients in beverages can affect the removal efficiency of MPs. • The developed adsorption kinetic equation can predict the value of adsorption of MPs. • Electrostatic interaction, and van der Waals force were main forces. Microplastics (MPs) stemming from plastic products have attracted wide attention around the world due to their stealth, persistence and potential threat to humans. It is essential to remove MPs by using eco-friendly and effective methods. In this study, to remove MPs, we proposed to prepare Fe 3 O 4 superhydrophobic magnetic adsorbents (Fe 3 O 4 @C n , n = 12, 14, 16, 18) modified by different saturated fatty acids (C 12 , C 14 , C 16 , C 18) by liquid phase deposition method. Transmission electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and nitrogen adsorption measurements were applied to characterize the morphology, functional groups, crystalline structures of Fe 3 O 4 @C n as well as its magnetic properties and pore size distribution. It was shown that Fe 3 O 4 @C n exhibited the characteristics of magnetic materials with superhydrophobic properties and thus possessed the ability to separate oil and water. During the removal of MPs in five liquid food systems, Fe 3 O 4 @C 12 exhibited 92.89 % adsorption efficiency, which was ascribed to the electrostatic and chemical bonding interactions between MPs and Fe 3 O 4 @C n , as suggested by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, the presence of organic matter in water can decrease the removal efficiency of Fe 3 O 4 @C n due to the competitive adsorption effect. Simulation by Langmuir isotherm model suggested that Fe 3 O 4 @C 12 displayed the greatest adsorption efficiency for Polystyrene (PS) (809.29 mg/g), which is higher than that of Fe 3 O 4 @C 14 , Fe 3 O 4 @C 16 , and Fe 3 O 4 @C 18. In addition, Langmuir adsorption isotherm and Gaussian calculations suggested that PS was removed by Fe 3 O 4 @C 12 through an exothermic reaction controlled by chemisorption. Overall, these results indicated that superhydrophobic magnetic materials prepared in this study show high potential for removing MPs in aqueous systems due to their low costs, good environmental friendliness, and high removal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanospheres with core–shell structure composed of hexaconazole/PDA. • In–situ growth of hexaconazole/PDA nanospheres in wood porous structure due to natural adhesiveness of PDA. • Hexaconazole is a highly effective wood preservative. • PDA can form a unique rough structure. • Wooden materials made of hexaconazole/PDA/HDTMS are decay resistant and superhydrophobic. Using the layered channels of wood and its unique mesoporous microstructure, hexaconazole, polydopamine (PDA), and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) were grown and deposited in-situ on the surface and interior of wood. Using this method, a superhydrophobic wood composite with decay resistance was prepared. Hexaconazole inhibited wood fungal decay, and the mass losses of wood were 0 and 0.06% with a retention of 140 g/m3 after laboratory decay tests for 12 weeks by using Trametes versicolor and Gloeophyllum trabeum, respectively. More importantly, through the oxidative self-polymerization of PDA, the adhesive PDA anchored hexaconazole nanoparticles to form a stable core–shell structure that increased the surface roughness of wood. In addition, based on the association of PDA with hydrophilic –OH groups in cellulose and hemicelluloses in wood, long-chain HDTMS was deposited on the surface of wood to form a superhydrophobic multifunctional wooden material with a water contact angle (WCA) of 154°. Based on its multifunctional and inherent durability, the wood also showed good chemical stability and resistance to UV, high- temperature, and high-humidity environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A robust superhydrophobic and fire retardant wood was prepared. • 3D flower-like HT clusters isolated by hierarchical pores was designed. • Such structure could break the conflicting requirement on adhesive. • The as-prepared wood showed superior fire retardancy. • The as-prepared wood showed excellent superhydrophobic robustness. As a new star of low carbon footprint material, wood with both superhydrophobic robustness and flame retardancy highly boosts its applications in various fields. However, these individual functionalities have conflicting requirements on the interfacial or bulky properties of its surface coating, especially in flammable organic adhesives (such as epoxy resin (EP) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)) and nanoparticle systems. Therefore, breaking the conflicting requirement on adhesives is a crucial and challenging issue for achieving superhydrophobic robustness without impairing flame retardancy. In this work, a structure of three-dimensional (3D) flower-like hydrotalcite (HT) clusters isolated by hierarchical pores was proposed to resolve the conflicting demand. Such kind of structure was fabricated through a one-step thermally-driven method using HT, EP and perfluorooctyl triethoxysilane (PFOES). Benefitting from the release of gaseous ethanol from the inside of wood and its circulation flow among EP and HT during thermally driven process, the HT particles were bonded with small amount of EP and assembled as robust 3D flower-like HT clusters isolated by micro/nano sized pores, rather than embedded in a thick EP coating. This structure significantly reduced the use of flammable EP and increased the loading of flame retardant HT. Therefore, wood with boosting flame retardancy without compromising its own superhydrophobic robustness was achieved (herein named as HT/EP/PFOES wood). Cone calorimetry test showed that the HT/EP/PFOES wood had a 49.33% reduction in the peak of heat release rate (HRR) and a 34.51% reduction of total heat release (THR), which outperformed most of the existing flame retardants and superhydrophobic lignin-cellulosic materials. Meanwhile, its superhydrophobic robustness was not impaired. Together with a facile one-step thermally driven fabrication process, this structure of 3D flower-like HT clusters provided a new insight into fire retardant and robust superhydrophobic wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A non-fluorinated electrothermal/superhydrophobic coating was obtained. • The coating has good mechanical and chemical stability, and in-situ self-healing ability. • The coating has excellent static and dynamic anti-icing ability. • The coating exhibits a long-term anti-corrosion effect for Mg alloy. The superhydrophobic surface has become a smart strategy for boosting the application of Mg alloy due to its anti-icing and anti-corrosion abilities. However, its application has been limited due to some drawbacks, such as harmful fluorinated materials, poor mechanochemical robustness, and unsatisfactory anti-icing performance in extreme environments. Herein, a non-fluorinated electrothermal/superhydrophobic coating, including bottom insulation and top superhydrophobic films, is prepared on Mg alloy by spray method. The superhydrophobic coating exhibits good mechanical robustness, chemical stability, and in-situ electrothermal-healing ability against plasma and chemical etchings. The electrothermal characteristic and superhydrophobicity endow the coating with excellent static and dynamic anti-icing, de-frosting, and de-icing performances. Moreover, the superhydrophobic coating exhibits a long-term anti-corrosion effect due to a durable air layer and organic coating, and can recover the coating's corrosion resistance by repairing superhydrophobicity. We expect that this research provides a wise strategy for designing superhydrophobic coating with good mechanical robustness, good chemical stability, electrothermal, in-situ self-healing, outstanding anti-icing, and long-term corrosion protection abilities to meet functional needs of Mg alloy as well as other metal materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A biofuel-assisted flame treatment method to create a hierarchical rough surface. • Thorough parameter investigation for superhydrophobic, transparent, flexible PDMS. • Developed surface have 5 times lower water droplet adhesion than lotus leaf. • Superimposed micro-nano result in ultimate de-wetting. • Films retain de-wettability during distortion, exhibiting flexibility and stability. The performance of multiple engineering systems including solar panels, flexible electronics, optical equipments and devices is limited due to atmospheric contamination. Pollutant and salt-laden aerosol and rain causes enourmous loss of functionality to multiple engineering systems. In the present work, we developed flexible, semi-transparent and durable superhydrophobic films for complex geometrical shapes. We showed that an environmental and simple biofuel-based flame treatment can be effectively tailored to develop durable superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films within a minute through tuned motion, without any pre-treatment. The treatment of PDMS results in the formation of Coral-like wrinkled morphology decorated with in-situ synthesized functionalized nano silica particles. The processing conditions are tuned to generate a hierarchically structured surface with utmost dewetting to water (θ > 160°), and other liquids including blood, with low hysteresis (<5°) and sliding angles (<5°). The adhesion with water is extremely low (∼2 μN) and better than that of the Lotus leaf (∼10 μN). This extreme dewetting and low adhesion characteristics are attributed to the Coral-like structures formed from agglomerated nano silica particles endowing negative capillary pressure of more than 14 MPa. The developed films showed excellent resistance to harsh physical and chemical environments with no signs of severe damage, sustaining more than 20,000 droplet impacts and more than one year weathering. The developed superhydrophobic flexible, durable, and semi-transparent films can be used for devising non-wettable self-cleaning structures, even with intricate shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel Ag+/POMs/polymer photochromic system has been prepared. • This material can achieve changes from white to different colors. • The composites can immediately produce dazzling green light under 980 nm light. • This material has superhydrophobicity and anti-liquid adhesion properties. Optical information storage materials with dual protectiveness of anti-counterfeiting and waterproofing are critical to store information and improve paper utilization in a safe and accurate way. A novel multifunctional material with efficient photo-responsiveness and hydrophobicity was herein developed. Wherein, a system of silver ion (Ag+)/polyoxometalates/polymer was creatively formed as a photochromic layer, achieving different color variations by different contents of Ag+ and UV irradiation doses. This functional surface can maintain colored state for a long time in indoor environments, which is favorable to long-term information storage. It can be quickly blenched within 20 min under a hydrogen peroxide-containing atmosphere, achieving controllability of fading time. In addition, a multifunctional transparent coating formed by PDMS and fine particles composed of ytterbium compound and silica was applied on photochromic layer. This coating rapidly generates dazzling green light under infrared radiation, laying a foundation for the safe transmission of information. Its microstructures effectively capture air in gaps and low surface energy avoids wetting of water, achieving excellent hydrophobicity with a surface contact angle of 152°. In a word, this elaborately designed strategy for information storage via photochromism and dual protection shows enormous application potentials in optical information storage and encryption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The shear thinning effect suppresses large scratch generation. • The shear thinning effect produces a sticky state that promotes self-healing. • Introduction of interfacial coupling groups increases adhesion strength. • Functional partition structure increases the long-term durability of coatings. The application of self-healing polymers in anti-corrosion coatings is restricted by their nonautonomous healing ability and poor long-term durability. In this paper, we propose a functional partition strategy assisted by the shear thinning effect to overcome the above restriction. The shear thinning effect was achieved by preparing a branched ethyl acrylate-acrylonitrile copolymer (B-PEA). The B-PEA coating exhibits multiple autonomous self-healability at room temperature (1.5 h) and in a salt solution (2 h), with a high adhesion strength of 3.4 MPa. To further improve the performance, a functional partition architecture combining superhydrophobic barrier and self-healing multilayers was constructed. The introduction of the superhydrophobic barrier layer largely increases the low-frequency impedance modulus | Z | f-0.01Hz and salt solution resistance time to 3.9 × 1010 Ω⋅cm2 and 3600 h, respectively, compared to a pristine B-PEA coating. The introduction of the B-PEA layer provides the barrier layer with room-temperature self-healing ability (2 h), and increases the long-term | Z | f-0.01Hz and salt solution resistance time in the presence of scratches to 7.7 × 109 Ω⋅cm2 and > 3600 h, respectively. The as-prepared superhydrophobic anti-corrosion coating system combines long-term durability and room-temperature autonomous self-healability in harsh salt-solution environments, and thus has a high potential for anti-corrosion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]