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Surface icing issues have a significant impact on industries such as aviation, transportation, and construction. Superhydrophobic surfaces can delay ice formation due to their liquid‐repellent properties, but their effectiveness is not pronounced in extremely cold environments. Electric heating coatings can effectively prevent ice formation, but they have limitations in environments with insufficient electrical energy supply. The anti‐icing effect of photothermal superhydrophobic coatings is restricted under conditions of insufficient sunlight. To enhance the ice‐preventing performance of superhydrophobic coatings in extremely cold environments, this article employs a template spraying method to prepare a carbon black and graphene composite coating that provides superhydrophobic passive anti‐icing and photo/electrothermal active deicing capabilities. The micro‐nanostructured superhydrophobic surface exhibits exceptional ice‐preventing performance. The excellent electrothermal and photothermal performance, along with high energy conversion efficiency, significantly enhance the coating's deicing efficiency. Under the synergistic effect of solar and electrical energy, the ice layer is completely melted within just 135 s. Furthermore, the material possesses excellent durability (resistance to mechanical wear, acid and alkali corrosion, and UV aging), as well as thermal stability. This research provides new avenues and insights for the development of advanced anti‐icing and deicing materials for applications in aviation, transportation, construction, and other fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic photocatalytic self‐cleaning films are fabricated via aerosol‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD). First, superhydrophobic/SiO2 polymer films consisting of a combination of fatty acids, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and SiO2 nanoparticles are deposited which displayed static water contact angles >160° and maintained superhydrophobicity after 300 tape peel cycles. The AACVD process is used to achieve a highly textured morphology required for superhydrophobicity. The surface properties are then modified by depositing a thin layer of TiO2 on the superhydrophobic coating via AACVD of titanium isopropoxide (TTIP). The deposited films are hydrophobic/superhydrophobic depending on the concentration of TTIP used in the deposition process. The resulting hybrid films exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity relative to the uncoated superhydrophobic film, maintained hydrophobicity after exposure to toluene, and tolerated pencil hardness of up to "6H". This multi‐layered approach allows to easily tune the wettability of the superhydrophobic film, which is challenging to do when the superhydrophobic and TiO2 precursor are deposited as a single one‐pot precursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation methods of superhydrophobic nanocomposite surfaces based on carbon nanotubes are reviewed in view of the different arrangement accuracy and various performance differences of the preparation methods of superhydrophobic surfaces of arrayed and non‐arrayed carbon nanotubes. The application progress of superhydrophobic surfaces of non‐arrayed carbon nanotubes in the fields of anti‐corrosion, anti‐icing and photothermal de‐icing is introduced. On the basis of summarizing the basic preparation methods and properties of carbon nanotubes, the advantages of carbon nanotubes as superhydrophobic surface materials are clarified. By analyzing and comparing the preparation methods of superhydrophobic surface of arrayed carbon nanotubes and non‐arrayed carbon nanotubes, it is concluded that the superhydrophobic surface of arrayed carbon nanotubes has some shortcomings compared with the superhydrophobic surface of non‐arrayed carbon nanotubes. The superhydrophobic surface of non‐arrayed carbon nanotubes offers advantages such as excellent long‐term durability and unique functionality, which will become the focus of research on the preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces based on carbon nanotubes. This will provide guidance for future research on the large‐scale preparation of such surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PTFE‐based superhydrophobic coatings have received increasing research and the fabricated coatings exhibited excellent anti‐corrosion, anti‐scaling, anti‐fouling, and anti‐icing properties. In order to further enhance the hydrophobicity of PTFE coating, a PTFE‐based coating consisted of nano‐silica and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was fabricated by deposition coating and annealing treatment. The water contact angle and sliding angle of the coating achieved 160.65° and 3.02°, respectively, demonstrating it possessed superhydrophobic property. Due to its excellent surface feature, the coating exhibited resistance to milk, coffee, and mud water, and could be easily cleaned by water flow. Besides, the water droplet on the coating had a longer freezing time and the ice droplet could be easily removed from the coating. Ascribed to the abundant nonpolar groups and the air cushion formed under water, the prepared coating had outstanding anti‐scaling and anti‐corrosion properties. The electrochemical impedance of the steel plate with the coating (above 9000 Ω·cm2) increased by two orders of magnitude compared with the non‐coating one (78.2 Ω·cm2), and the anti‐scaling rates of the coating towards BaSO4 and SrSO4 were all above 80%. It is promising that the coating will be a competitive candidate in many application fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine oil spills and improper disposal of daily oil usage have posed significant threat to ecological environments and human health due to rapid industrial development. In this study, an environmentally friendly, simple process and high‐performance Fe3O4@SiO2@Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)‐based smart bionic superhydrophobic oil‐absorbing material was developed for effectively collecting and removing oil pollutants from water. By studying the effects of Fe3O4 particle size, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) concentration, and heating time on the superhydrophobicity of the materials, the directional regulation of superhydrophobicity and oil‐water separation performance of Fe3O4@SiO2@PMMA@PDMS materials was realized. The results showed that the material exhibited optimal performance when the Fe3O4 particle size combination was 20/500 nm/1 μm, the mass ratio of PDMS to Fe3O4@SiO2@PMMA was 7 : 1, and it was heated at 350°C for 1 minute. The coating achieved an apparent contact angle (APCA) of 158.7° and a rolling angle as low as 4.9°. This coating not only remained superhydrophobic after a 21 m abrasion test and 288 h immersion in acid, alkali, salt, and high‐temperature solutions, but also efficiently separated oil‐water mixtures and water‐in‐oil emulsions, and the separation efficiency for oil‐water mixtures of trichloromethane, dichloromethane and bromomethane was over 99.78 %, and that for water‐in‐oil emulsions was over 98.34 %. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic magnetic polyurethane (SFPU) sponge prepared using Fe3O4@SiO2@PMMA not only exhibited excellent oil‐absorbing capacity (11–28 g/g), but also realized precise oil absorption at multiple sites by magnetic conduction. In the actual oily wastewater test, the oil‐water separation efficiency of the sponge reached 90.58 % and the oil absorption capacity reached 17.03 g/g. This efficient oil‐water separation performance as well as oil adsorption capacity comes from the fact that the nonpolar molecules (e. g., −CH3) generated by the hydrolysis of PDMS can produce van der Waals adsorption with oil substances, while the excellent micro‐nanostructure of the coating surface greatly increases the contact area between oil droplets and the coating, which can make them adsorb or pass through quickly. This multifunctional coating and sponge had immense application potential in fields like offshore oil spill treatment, organic pollution control in water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precise manipulation of microdroplets on solid surfaces is crucial for the practical application and future development of microfluidic control technology. Traditionally, methods to achieve precise control over microdroplets often involve complex fabrication processes. Herein, the control of surface wettability is achieved based on the light‐ and heat‐responsive shape memory effect of the microstructure. An innovative superhydrophobic shape‐memory material with a simplified and efficient manufacturing process is proposed to precisely control microdroplets through surface wettability switching. Firstly, microplates with shape‐memory effects are manufactured using 4D printing technology and polylactic acid as the base material. Then, a mixture of carbon black and epoxy resin is sprayed onto the surface for superhydrophobic modification, resulting in a contact angle of up to 165°. The addition of carbon black endows the surface with excellent photothermal conversion effects. Anisotropy and photothermal response studies are incorporated. Through periodic heating, pressing, and deformation, the microplate array exhibits controllable wettability switching. Based on the shape‐memory effect of polylactic acid, the superhydrophobic surface has adjustable adhesion and is successfully applied to microfluidic platforms and microdroplet size screening. This innovative material and process offer significant potential for advancing the field of microfluidic control technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nosocomial infections affect implanted medical devices and greatly challenge their functional outcomes, becoming sometimes life threatening for the patients. Therefore, aggressive antibiotic therapies are administered, which often require the use of last‐resort drugs, if the infection is caused by multi‐drug‐resistant bacteria. Reducing the risk of bacterial contamination of medical devices in the hospitals has thus become an emerging issue. Promising routes to control these infections are based on materials provided with intrinsic bactericidal properties (i.e., chemical action) and on the design of surface coatings able to limit bacteria adhesion and fouling phenomena (i.e., physical action), thus preventing bacterial biofilm formation. Here, we report the development and validation of coatings made of layer‐by‐layer deposition of electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐trifluoro ethylene) P(VDF‐TrFE) fibers with controlled orientations, which ultimately gave rise to antifouling surfaces. The obtained 10‐layer surface morphology with 90° orientation fibers was able to efficiently prevent the adhesion of bacteria, by establishing a superhydrophobic‐like behavior compatible with the Cassie‐Baxter regimen. Moreover, the results highlighted that surface wettability and bacteria adhesion could be controlled using fibers with diameter comparable to bacteria size (i.e., achievable via electrospinning process), by tuning the intra‐fiber spacing, with relevant implications in the future design of biomedical surface coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracting water from air offers a promising route to address the global challenge of water scarcity. However, bionic engineering surfaces for water harvesting often struggle with efficiently coordinating droplet nucleation and desorption. The recently emerging triboelectric effect at the liquid–solid interface offers a novel approach for developing bionic fog harvesting surfaces. In this study, inspired by Namib Desert beetles and lotus leaves, a biomimetic superhydrophobic surface with nanoscale hydrophilic domains is prepared via interfacial self‐assembly, exhibiting heterogeneous wettability for effective water harvesting. The essence of interfacial self‐assembly lies in the synergy of non‐covalent interaction forces, driving the self‐assembly of nanoparticles into surface micro‐nano hierarchical structures, thereby regulating wettability and increasing potential nucleation sites. Additionally, the triboelectric effect can directly utilize the triboelectric charges to facilitate droplet migration. The triboelectric effect can be generated by flexible mechanical input induced by walking, which enhances interfacial mass transfer, thereby rapidly improving droplet removal and achieving a 39.02% increase in water harvesting efficiency. This study has opened up a new breakthrough for the design of portable and efficient water harvesting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible strain sensors are of great significance in health monitoring, wearable electronic devices, intelligent robot sensing, and other fields. Most of the reported works focus on the enhancement of sensitivity or working range, while linearity is ignored and exhibits strong nonlinearity. Conflict among performances remains a serious challenge for the development of flexible strain sensors. Herein, inspired by the architecture of butterfly's wings, a strain sensor with double conductive layers and wrinkles/holes structures is proposed. The fabricated sensor shows a high linearity of >0.98 over a full working strain range of 120%, and a linearity of up to 0.999 within a strain range of 0%–30%. Apart from that, the sensor also presents a sensitivity of 8.28, high stability over 40 000 cycles when subjected to a full‐scale strain, as well as a water contact angle of >167.4°. Meanwhile, strains as low as 0.075% can be identified, while a maximum frequency of 40 Hz can be responded to for the sensor. It is demonstrated that the sensor is capable of enabling flexible grippers to sense and monitor the motions of underwater vehicles, indicating its greater potential for diverse applications, such as human–machine interaction, marine environmental protection, and biological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As maritime transport becomes increasingly important, metal corrosion results in significant economic losses. Superhydrophobic materials have significant potential for corrosion prevention. However, poor compatibility between superhydrophobic materials and resin reduces the long‐term corrosion resistance. Interfacial strengthening cells (IS‐Cells) are designed to maintain superhydrophobicity and retain active hydroxyl groups participating in resin‐curing. IS‐Cells also contribute to achieving the maze effect. A novel anti‐corrosion IS coating is fabricated by compatible IS‐Cells and epoxy. IS coatings feature smooth surfaces and vertical compactness, protecting against liquid and gaseous corrosive medium. Strong diffusion resistance and extended diffusion distance ensure long‐term corrosion resistance of IS coatings. Approximately 85 µm of IS coatings remain corrosion‐free after 112 days of immersion in the NaCl solution. The low‐frequency impedance, self‐corrosion potential, and self‐corrosion current density are 1.68 × 109 Ω cm2, −0.0708 V, and 5.38 × 10−11 A cm−2, respectively. IS coatings can also withstand 2400 h of neutral salt spray testing without corrosion in the artificial scratches. Due to the electrostatic repulsion between the hydrophobic C–F chains onto IS‐Cells and protein molecules, IS coatings maintain anti‐fouling properties after dry‐wet immersion tests in the natural marine environment for 90 days. IS coatings show great potential for marine anti‐corrosion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for superhydrophobic fabric with self‐cleaning and antibacterial features as potential practical applications has been rising steadily with the passage of time. In this research work, the wet chemical method is used to manufacture cotton with a superhydrophobic coating. Thus, Nanoparticles of silver were produced by using an in situ method. Afterward, the fabric is treated with a solution of perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane to make it superhydrophobic. The cotton fabric performs remarkably with exceptional hydrophobicity as it had a contact angle of 157 ± 1° and less than 10° in sliding angle. Water droplet's dynamic behavior is also studied so that the superhydrophobic fabric development can be proven. The fabric shows excellent chemical durability by performing chemical tests. The antimicrobial and self‐cleaning properties are greatly enhanced by the superhydrophobic coating on cotton. Particle density on the superhydrophobic cotton before and after self‐cleaning was found 5.1 and 0.4 mg/cm2. In addition, the treated cotton fabric also exhibited superior antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli bacteria. Therefore, the developed multifunctional cotton fabric can be used in real‐life applications. Highlights: Cotton fabric enables to repelling of dirt, oil, and water‐based stains more effectively.Silver nanoparticles possess potent antibacterial properties.Incorporation of PFOTS controls the release of silver into the environment.Versatile applications from healthcare and hospitality to outdoor and athletic apparel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic materials used for oil–water separation have received wide attention. However, the simple and low‐cost strategy for making durable superhydrophobic materials remains a major challenge. Here, this work reports that stable and durable superhydrophobic cotton fabrics can be prepared using a simple two‐step impregnation process. Silica nanoparticles are surface modified by hydrolysis condensation of 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS). 1,4‐conjugate addition reaction between the acrylic group of cross‐linking agent pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) and the amino group of octadecylamine (ODA) forms a covalent cross‐linked rough network structure. The long hydrophobic chain of ODA makes the cotton fabric exhibit excellent superhydrophobic properties, and the water contact angle (WCA) of the fabric surface reaches 158°. The modified cotton fabric has good physical and chemical stability, self‐cleaning, and anti‐fouling. At the same time, the modified fabric shows excellent oil/water separation efficiency (98.16% after 20 cycles) and ultrahigh separation flux (15413.63 L m−2 h−1) due to its superhydrophobicity, superoleophilicity, and inherent porous structure. The method provides a broad prospect in the future diversification applications of oil/water separation and oil spill cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bubbles and foams are often removed via chemical defoamers and/or mechanical agitation. Designing surfaces that promote chemical‐free and energy‐passive bubble capture is desirable for numerous industrial processes, including mineral flotation, wastewater treatment, and electrolysis. When immersed, super‐liquid‐repellent surfaces form plastrons, which are textured solid topographies with interconnected gas domains. Plastrons exhibit the remarkable ability of capturing bubbles through coalescence. However, the two‐step mechanics of plastron‐induced bubble coalescence, namely, rupture (initiation and location) and subsequent absorption (propagation and drainage) are not well understood. Here, the influence of 1) topographical feature size and 2) gas fraction on bubble capture dynamics is investigated. Smaller feature sizes accelerate rupture while larger gas fractions markedly improve absorption. Rupture is initiated solely on solid domains and is more probable near the edges of solid features. Yet, rupture time becomes longer as solid fraction increases. This counterintuitive behavior represents unexpected complexities. Upon rupture, the bubble's moving liquid‐solid contact line influences its absorption rate and equilibrium state. These findings show the importance of rationally minimizing surface feature sizes and contact line interactions for rapid bubble rupture and absorption. This work provides key design principles for plastron‐induced bubble coalescence, inspiring future development of industrially‐relevant surfaces for underwater bubble capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon steel is widely used, but it is prone to corrosion, which can lead to safety accidents. In this study, a novel Ni‐SiC coating was synthesized on the surface of carbon steel using a one‐step electrodeposition method, and the influence of electrodeposition parameters on the wettability of the coating was investigated. This coating possesses abundant micro‐nanostructures on its surface, which, after being placed in a vacuum drying environment for 2 weeks, endows it with superhydrophobic characteristics. Due to its superhydrophobic properties and the rich micro‐nanostructures, the corrosion current density of this coating is 1/18.95 that of bare steel. After immersion in a corrosive medium for some time, the polarization resistance value of the coated sample was observed to be 13.05 times greater than that of bare steel, demonstrating its remarkable ability to enhance the corrosion resistance of the surface. The results of this study can provide a reference for the anticorrosion work on carbon steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent requirement of carbon reduction in the world provides wood products a historical opportunity to play a crucial role to fix carbon dioxide and reduce carbon emission. It is essential to reveal the in situ growth mechanism of copper nanoparticles on eucalyptus scrimber surface. Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 nanoflowers are in situ synthesized successfully on the surface of eucalyptus scrimber via a simple hydrothermal process in this work. The detailed nucleation and in situ growth process of Cu4(OH)6SO4 nanoparticles on the surface of eucalyptus scrimber, characterized by the trajectory of size evolution, are revealed first in this work. According to the classical nucleation theory, the nucleation stage of as prepared Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 nanoflowers includes nucleus formation and nucleus growth. Although the same initial precursor reactant is obtained at the nucleation stage, there are two types of early nanoparticles, with morphology of fusiform and strip shape being self assembled to nanoflower structure during the growth stage. Further, the modified eucalyptus scrimber exhibits excellent superhydrophobicity, UV durability, mold and moisture resistance, as well as reversible property. Therefore, the proposed in situ growth kinetics related to Cu4(OH)6SO4 nanoparticles on wood surface have potential to be a reference to develop multifunctional superhydrophobic wood‐based material for variable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing inspiration from nature has served as a crucial driving force behind human progress, enabling groundbreaking advancements and cross‐disciplinary integration through the emulation of biological superhydrophobic phenomena. Bioinspired superhydrophobic triboelectric materials stand out among advanced triboelectric materials due to their unique hydrophobic properties, exceptional moisture resistance, and remarkable electrical performance. However, the inherent complexity of natural phenomena and the need for refinement in bioinspired design pose significant challenges in the development of bioinspired superhydrophobic triboelectric materials. This comprehensive review delves into bioinspired superhydrophobic triboelectric materials from the perspectives of theoretical underpinnings, fabrication strategies, and cutting‐edge applications. Rooted in the interaction mechanisms between water molecules and triboelectric materials, the importance of enhanced hydrophobic properties is elucidated. A systematic overview of bioinspired superhydrophobic triboelectric materials’ construction strategies is presented, offering fresh perspectives and insights into the development and application of high‐performance triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Finally, the current challenges and untapped opportunities in bioinspired superhydrophobic triboelectric materials are summarized to fully unlock their potential for applications in TENGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent materials widely used in applications such as eyewear, solar cells, and optical devices, often suffer from environmental challenges including fogging, surface contamination, and mechanical deformation. However, a universal strategy that resolves all these issues in a single platform remains to be resolved. Herein, a monolithic micropillar structure based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer is prepared followed by subsequent assembly of hydrogel micropatterns in between the micropillar array using inkjet printing to achieve flexible wet‐style superhydrophobic antifogging tapes that are applicable to various transparent materials and curvatures. The monolithic micropillar structure with low‐surface‐energy characteristics facilitates easy removal of surface contaminants by rinsing with water while granting mechanical durability. In addition, micropatterning of hydrogels via inkjet printing not only enables to maintain optical transparency in a fogging environment but also makes the fabrication procedure more scalable. Furthermore, the strong adhesion between the hydrogel and the elastomer is shown to provide enhanced stability under repeated stretching cycles and long‐term exposure to water while the presence of a loosely cross‐linked PDMS at the bottom of the tape made it applicable to a wide range of transparent substrates without using additional adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent, photoluminescent, mechanically reliable, ultraviolet protective and superhydrophobic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) plastic was developed. A simple strategy to prepare transparent plastic that glows in the dark is to use alkaline earth strontium aluminate (AESA) nanoparticles trapped in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPUR). In order to improve both hardness and transparency of the plastic composite, cellulose nanowhiskers were used as a crosslinker and drier. The colorless plastic substrates exhibited a color shift to greenish when exposed to ultraviolet source. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was employed to examine the morphology of AESA nanoparticles (8–15 nm in diameter) and cellulose nanowhiskers (3–7 nm in width and 645–665 nm in length). Morphological studies and hardness parameters were used to assess the TPUR samples. Excitation and emission spectral analyses were also employed to study the photoluminescence characteristics. The colorless plastic substrates that were made luminescent showed an excitation band at 388 nm and two emission bands at 452 nm and 515 nm. TPUR samples with greater AESA levels exhibited long‐persistent afterglow, whereas TPUR samples with lower AESA amounts exhibited rapid and reversible fluorescence when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Enhanced UV shielding and superhydrophobicity were observed in the photoluminescent plastic substrates upon increasing the phosphor content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stainless steel (SST) is an important material for a variety of applications including construction, food, and medical. Highly hydrophobic wetting properties enhance the surface properties of SST to support processes such as self‐cleaning. However, applications also require long‐term stability of such properties against chemical and mechanical influences from the environment or technical processes. Therefore, the reduction of highly hydrophobicity of chemically modified, laser‐textured SST surfaces is investigated in relation to abrasive wear using hierarchical structures, micro‐/nanotextured surface, and support structures that shield the highly hydrophobic pattern. Surface textures comprising ridges, grooves (size: 50–500 μm; depth: up to 100 μm), and a nanostructured grooves bottom are machined by infrared ultrashort pulse laser ablation into SST and are subsequently chemically modified by a self‐assembled monolayer of a fluorinated, phosphonic acid‐modified alkane. Abrasive wear tests of these surfaces show decreasing water contact angles with increasing wear of the modified surface of the support structures. However, there is good stability of the highly hydrophobic properties due to the protection of modified areas at the groove bottom. The proposed wetting model for such designed functionalized laser textures shows possibilities for further optimization of such robust highly hydrophobic surfaces and adaptation to specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile strategy to construct superhydrophobic coatings was carried out by one‐pot process using novel nano zero‐valent iron and hydrogen peroxide as trigger in ethanol and Tris buffer mixed system containing dopamine and 1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorodecanethiol (PFDT) for the first time. The polydopamine (PDA) modified by PFDT composite coating can be deposited onto various substrates including glass slides, polyurethane sheets, polytetrafluoroethylene wafers, 304 stainless steel sheets, and polyurethane sponges, revealing excellent hydrophobicity with the water contact angles from 157.1° to 162.2° and the sliding angle lower than 1°. The flourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy information of the composite coating demonstrated the successful covalent interaction between catechol group in PDA and thiol group of PFDT via Michael addition reaction. As‐prepared PFDT/PDA composite coatings exhibited enhanced chemical stability in highly acidic solutions for 6 days, alkaline aqueous solutions for 5 days, salty solutions (3.5 wt%) for 28 days, and polar organic solvents for 24 h, respectively, as well as resistance to algae adhesion. The excellent corrosion resistance and chemical stability of the composite coating and their simple, time saving and inexpensive construction process are expected to be widely applied in various areas, including marine anti‐corrosion, anti‐fouling, and oil–water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti‐icing of superhydrophobic materials has attracted a lot of attention. The potential for applications in power electronics, transportation, engineering and other fields is enormous. However, in practical applications, the anti‐icing performance parameters of superhydrophobic materials are still far from meeting the engineering requirements. It is a feasible solution to modify superhydrophobic materials to assist surface deicing by combining the vibration and heat generated by equipment in actual engineering. In this study, conventional superhydrophobic materials are modified by h‐BN. The electrical properties are improved to meet the engineering requirements. At the same time, it reduces the ice adhesion at the interface and improves the thermal conductivity of the material. The modified material has the possibility of assisting in de‐icing in engineering applications. A feasible solution is found for the engineering interface ice‐covering problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) is very promising to solve the issue of fresh water shortage, however, poor salt resistance severely hinders long‐term stable SIE and fresh water collection. Here, we report design of superhydrophilic solar evaporators for long‐term stable desalination, fresh water collection and salt collection by vertical salt deposition. The evaporators are prepared by sequentially deposition of silicone nanofilaments, polypyrrole and Au nanoparticles on a polyester fabric composed of microfibers. The evaporators feature excellent photothermal effect and ultrafast water transport, due to their unique micro‐/nanostructure and superhydrophilicity. As a result, during SIE the salt gradually deposits vertically rather than occupies larger area on the evaporators. Consequently, long‐term stable SIE with high evaporation rates of 2.4–2.1 kg m−2 h−1 for 3.5–20 wt % brine in continuous 10 h is achieved under 1 sun illumination. Meanwhile, the loosely deposited salt can be easily collected, realizing zero brine discharge. Moreover, scalable preparation of the evaporator is achieved, which exhibits efficient collection of high quality fresh water (10.08 kg m−2 in 8 h) via SIE desalination under weak natural sunlight (0.46~0.66 sun). This strategy sheds a new light on the design of high‐performance solar evaporators and their real‐world fresh water collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in flexible superhydrophobic surfaces extends beyond various practical applications like solar panels, flexible electronics, etc. This study introduces a cost‐effective and environmentally friendly method to create a durable, flexible, and optically semi‐transparent superhydrophobic film with an extreme anti‐icing character. The prestrained polydimethylsiloxane film subjected to biofuel‐based flame treatment under controlled conditions induces microwrinkles with a superimposed cluster of nanoparticles while maintaining surface flexibility and transparency. This meticulous process enhances surface roughness, achieving superhydrophobic characteristics (θ > 165˚) with a remarkably low tilting angle (<3˚) with adhesion against water <2 µN (lower than Lotus leaf). The films applied over solar panels result in <1% voltage drop within 5 s due to effective cleaning under simulated rain. The remarkable anti‐icing performance of the developed film is characterized by ice adhesion <25 kPa over 50 icing/de‐icing cycles attributed to the presence of nanoclusters. The films displayed exceptional resilience and sustained efficacy under prolonged exposure to harsh external environments. These superhydrophobic films, characterized by flexibility, durability, and transparency, present promising opportunities for fabricating structures, even with intricate geometries. These findings imply a significant stride in the practical utilization of superhydrophobic surfaces, demonstrating their potential in diverse real‐world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interfacial floater possessing an open surface diversifies the functions of current systems in the field of solar evaporation, micro‐detector, multiphase catalysis, etc. However, most of the current floaters still face challenges such as the anti‐submersion, orientation adjusting, and multifunctional capabilities. Drawing inspiration from water striders and diving bell spiders, here a superhydrophobic cellular origami (SCO) is proposed with reliable stability, submerge resistance, switchable floatability, and multifunctional integration. The remarkable floating ability is achieved through the air storage ability of superhydrophobic air cells. SCO floats stably on the water surface and has a maximum load capacity that is 48% higher than the superhydrophobic sheet. Besides, SCO can resurface rapidly after complete submersion, even using titanium metal as substrate. To further enhance the universality of SCO, the Janus SCO with unbalanced structure can float with a specific orientation facing up and the origami structure is optimized to be switchable with hinge structure for adjustable buoyancy. To prove the concept in 3D structure, a cylindrical SCO is presented for cable locating on the water surface. This study presents an achievable strategy to extend superhydrophobic surfaces into anti‐sinking floaters, offering valuable insights into the development of multifunctional interface carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic surfaces have broad application prospects in various fields due to their special surface wettability. However, most artificial superhydrophobic surfaces are fabricated on rigid substrates or flexible substrates with low deformability, and their performance is difficult to guarantee when a large deformation occurs, hindering further application. Here, a superhydrophobic ultra‐stretchable (SU) film is fabricated by simple template replication and low surface energy modification method using the mixture of vulcanized natural latex (VNR) and silicone emulsion as raw material. The prepared SU film exhibits excellent elasticity and wettability stability and can maintain good superhydrophobicity even after 500% tensile strain. Moreover, droplets dropped on the SU film are bounced in time without any residue, avoiding the accumulation of droplets on the film. Finally, a magnetoelectric generator composed of a SU film and an electromagnetic system are developed to realize the efficient utilization and conversion of droplet energy via droplet impacting and bouncing behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospun nanofiber membranes (ENMs) have emerged as a cutting‐edge solution for membrane distillation (MD), recognized for their highly porous and interconnected architecture. This distinctive structure enables them to offer minimal mass transfer resistance, making them exceptionally suited for high‐efficiency membrane‐based separation processes. However, the very porosity that defines their strength also renders them vulnerable to fouling, scaling, and wetting during operation, which in turn compromises their performance. Current research efforts are geared toward overcoming these obstacles by refining the surface design and characteristics of ENMs. This review delves into the latest advancements in surface‐enhanced electrospun nanofiber membranes tailored for MD applications. It discusses the existing gaps in research and provides forward‐looking insights into the future of ENMs, spotlighting the development of membranes with precisely tunable surface attributes for optimized performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a superhydrophobic surface was successfully prepared on Al alloy 5052 using a simple anodic oxidation method followed by fluorination treatment. This study demonstrates the construction of rough structure of Al oxide by an anodic oxidation reaction, which improves the superhydrophobicity of the alloy. The top, tilt, and cross‐views of the samples were characterized by field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and focused ion beam. The chemical composition of the samples was analyzed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. The structure of the surface was effectively modified as the anodization time increased. The optimum anodic oxidation reaction was carried out for 4 min in a 0.2‐M H3PO4 aqueous electrolyte at 50°C under a constant voltage of 120 V to create a pore‐and‐dendrite hybrid nanostructure. The water contact angle values were maximized in the hybrid nanostructure because their solid fraction area was smaller than that in the porous structure. Corrosion measurements proved that the superhydrophobic surface can significantly inhibit the corrosion of the substrate alloy with an inhibition efficiency of 99.99%. In addition, the prepared superhydrophobic sample exhibited good self‐cleaning properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical flow cells based on gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) provide a potential means to achieve industrial‐compatible massive CO production. However, the application of flow cells is hindered by the stability issue caused by GDE hydrophilizing and electrolyte flooding. The current strategies have certain limitations in maintaining the long‐term hydrophobicity of GDE. Inspired by the superhydrophobic materials in nature, here a constructionally engineered superhydrophobic GDE is presented for boosting the stability of CO2 reduction to CO in flow cells under industrial‐compatible current densities. This superhydrophobic GDE is comprised of micro/nano‐structured CNTs/graphene composites with abundant and robust single‐atomic Ni‐Nx active sites (NiSA‐CNT@G). The unique integrated hierarchical structure with highly exposed surface area and enhanced mass/charge transfer contributes to an industrial‐scale CO partial current density of 406.5 mA cm−2 with a FECO of 96.3% in a flow cell. Notably, the robust superhydrophobic micro/nanostructure efficiently resists electrolyte flooding over the GDE during the CO2RR, thus maintaining a stable three‐phase interface. Over 70 h stability is demonstrated at an industrial‐compatible current density of 300 mA cm−2. These results open up new opportunities for industrial‐level CO production via electrochemical CO2RR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising oil spills from contemporary industrial activities pose threats to local ecosystems. This study presents a novel approach, fabricating superhydrophobic polycaprolactone (PCL) 3D porous foam for oil–water separation using thermally induced nonsolvent‐induced phase separation (TINIPS) and silica modification, achieving an impressive water contact angle of 151.56°. PCL foam exhibits remarkable versatility, proving effective in oil absorption on water surfaces and underwater, with an adsorption capacity reaching 9.32 times its weight. Additionally, film‐like PCL foam emerges as a valuable tool for oil–water separation through filtration, maintaining a flux of 13.63 m3 m−2 h−1 even after 10 cycles. This research advances superhydrophobic materials, demonstrating practical applications in mitigating environmental challenges posed by oil spills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of materials that repel water, known as superhydrophobic materials, has been hindered by their vulnerability to mechanical abrasion. This issue is particularly pronounced for superhydrophobic nanocomposite coatings fabricated using a simple blend of resin and nanoparticles (NPs) through uncomplicated methods such as spraying or brushing, where an excessive amount of NPs can deteriorate the mechanical property. Moreover, the limitation of thickness puts forward a request for a high retention rate of the coatings. In response to these challenges, this study presents an innovative approach aimed at enhancing the robustness of superhydrophobic nanocomposite coatings through the utilization of a straightforward dual spraying technique. The results demonstrate that the particles with hierarchical micro/nanostructures fabricated by the primary spraying process provide abundant roughness feedstocks for the secondary‐sprayed coatings, in which superhydrophobicity properties can be achieved with less NP content. Additionally, the mechanical durability of the coatings can be reinforced by the addition of appropriate amounts of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) NPs and the continuous‐distributed particles fabricated by the primary‐spraying process, exhibiting a longer abrasion distance and a higher retention rate. Also, the prepared sample shows comprehensive robustness in adhesion, abrasion, and dynamic impact tests. By offering insights into material selection and process optimization, this study paves the way for creating resilient superhydrophobic coatings using a streamlined and convenient approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the overheating phenomena of electronic devices and energy components, developing advanced energy‐free cooling coatings with promising radiative property seem an effective and energy‐saving way. However, the further application of these coatings is greatly limited by their sustainability because of their fragile and easy contamination. Herein, it is reported that a bioinspired radiative cooling coating (BRCC) displayed sustainably efficient heat dissipation by the combination of high emittance and robust self‐cleaning property. With the hierarchical porous structure constructed by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), modified SiO2 and fluorosilicone (FSi) resin, the involvement of the BRCC improves the cooling performance by increasing ≈25% total heat transfer coefficient. During the abrasion and soiling tests, the BRCC‐coated Al alloy heat sink always displays stable radiative cooling performance. Moreover, the simulation and experimental results both revealed that reducing surface coverage of BRCC (≈80.9%) can still keep highly cooling efficiency, leading to a cost‐effective avenue. Therefore, this study may guide the design and fabrication of advanced radiative cooling coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the use of nature‐inspired superhydrophobic coatings in various industries and daily life has attracted a lot of attention due to the unparalleled features of these coatings. Also, many efforts are made to produce coatings that are based on natural, degradable and nontoxic materials. The purpose of this review article is to collect and introduce the latest environmentally friendly methods of manufacturing food‐related superhydrophobic coatings. Coating fruits to postpone their spoilage, producing packages that eliminate residual food after consumption and creating antimicrobial substrates in industries like dairy are some of the applications of these coatings in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal superhydrophobic coatings hold great promise in addressing the limitations of conventional superhydrophobic anti‐icing coatings. However, developing such coatings with excellent impalement resistance, mechanical robustness and weather resistance remains a significant challenge. Here, we report facile preparation of robust photothermal superhydrophobic coatings with all the above advantages. The coatings were prepared by spraying a dispersion consisting of fluorinated silica nanoparticles, a silicone‐modified polyester adhesive and photothermal carbon black nanoparticles onto Al alloy plates followed by thermal curing. Thermal curing caused migration of perfluorodecyl polysiloxane from within the coatings to the surface, effectively maintaining a low surface energy despite the presence of the adhesive. Therefore, combined with the hierarchical micro‐/nanostructure, dense yet rough nanostructure, adhesion of the adhesive and chemically inert components, the coatings exhibited remarkable superhydrophobicity, impalement resistance, mechanical robustness and weather resistance. Furthermore, the coatings demonstrated excellent photothermal effect even in the −10 °C, 80 % relative humidity and weak sunlight (0.2 sun) environment. Consequently, the coatings showed excellent passive anti‐icing and active de‐icing performance. Moreover, the coatings have good generalizability and scalability. We are confident that this study will accelerate the practical implementation of photothermal superhydrophobic coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we used cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as the skeleton, Fe3O4@ZnO composite particles as magnetic synergist particles, 3‐(2‐aminoethylamino) propyltrimethoxysilane (AS) and trimethoxy(octyl)silane (OTMS) as water‐based hydrophobic modifiers to prepare magnetic and superhydrophobic cellulose nanofibers based‐aerogel with low density and intricate three‐dimensional structure. Fe3O4@ZnO confers magnetic properties (3.82 emu/g) and exceptional thermal stability (water contact angle of 150.1° at 200 °C) to the system, while the combination with OTMS/AS endows the system superhydrophobic (157.5°) and excellent mechanical properties (stress of 96.95 kPa at 80% strain). It is worth noting that in the process of modifying the system with OTMS/AS, no organic solvents and acidic substances are used in the solution. Benefiting from their synergies, the system demonstrates a notable oil absorption capacity (12.31–41.91 g/g) and outstanding oil selectivity (exceeding 90%), driven by gravity alone. Interestingly, this system, marked by its cost‐effectiveness, simplicity, eco‐friendliness, and heightened efficiency, holds promising prospects for diverse applications in different oil–water separation behavior and purifying industrial oil wastewater, as well as oil flooding incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the escalating issue of oily wastewater, separation membranes with special wettability on the surface are widely used in oil–water separation. The development of separation membranes with not only stable separation flux but also anti‐fouling properties is an urgent problem. Therefore, polystyrene/polyacrylonitrile‐polyvinylidene fluoride/polydimethylsiloxane‐titanium dioxide nanoparticle (PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@TiO2) composite membranes with superhydrophobicity and lipophilicity were prepared by electrospinning technique. By changing the doping amount of TiO2 nanoparticles, the multilevel rough structure was constructed on the surface, and the transformation of the Ti–O–C chemical bond to the Si–O–Ti chemical bond was realized inside the composite membrane. The results showed that the composite membrane had excellent superhydrophobicity (154.9°) and mechanical properties (tensile strength of 3.54 MPa, elongation of 60.95%). The membrane can absorb ultraviolet light and exhibits enhanced resistance to fouling when exposed to visible‐UV light. Additionally, the composite membrane demonstrates an adsorption capacity of 30–100 g/g for a wide range of oils. In corrosive environments, the composite membrane maintains superhydrophobicity (above 150°) and achieves high oil–water separation efficiency (97%). After 40 cycles, the separation flux of 6000 L.h−1 m−2 can be maintained. Hence, superhydrophobic oleophilic composite membranes with a stable separation flux and resistance to fouling can be employed in the field of oil–water separation. Highlights: PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@TiO2 composite membrane with multilevel rough structure.PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@TiO2 composite membrane with excellent UV absorption and self‐cleaning ability.PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@TiO2 composite membrane with stable oil–water separation efficiency in harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited attention has been paid to repellency and wettability‐confined transport of low‐surface‐tension liquids, such as oils, alcohols, and hydrocarbons. This is because repellency becomes very difficult for fluids with surface tension below 30 mN m−1. This situation is encountered in many engineering applications using organic liquids and thus, oleophobic surfaces are of high technological importance. In this work, a nanocomposite coating comprising of fluorinated silica micro‐ and nanoparticles (filler), a copolymer (binder), and traces of fluorinated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (additive, lowest surface‐energy crystalline material reported to date) is spray‐deposited on a surface pretextured by laser etching, a technique that requires no lithographic processing. The approach results in surfaces that can repel liquid hydrocarbons with surface tension as low as 21.14 mN m−1 and also hinder the spreading of heptane (19.74 mN m−1) at room temperature. The repellency of several organic liquids with surface tensions in the range of 19.7 – 27 mN m−1 is experimentally investigated and compared with water (baseline case). To study the effect of fluid properties, comparisons are performed between the distances traveled and the velocities of microliter droplets transported pumplessly on wedge‐shaped wettability‐patterned tracks that confine the liquids by the superoleophobic background surrounding the wettable tracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic surfaces offer notable advantages, including markedly low water affinity and reduced ice adhesion strength. Nevertheless, their practical utility is impeded by their limited durability and vulnerability to failure in cold and humid environments. In this study, a novel approach for devising an electro‐photothermal superhydrophobic (EPS) nanocomposite coating is presented. The findings indicate that the EPS nanocomposite coating exhibits both physical and chemical self‐cleaning attributes, showcasing a synergistic interplay of superhydrophobicity, electrothermal, and photothermal characteristics. The superhydrophobic coating delays icing about four times longer than the original coating. At ambient temperatures of −20 °C, the coating stacked with an electro‐ and photo‐thermal performance de‐icing layer reduces the de‐icing time by about 5 times more than the purely photo‐thermal performance de‐icing time, and reduces the de‐icing time by about 4 times more than the purely electro‐thermal de‐icing time. Furthermore, the EPS surface demonstrates the capability to sustain temperatures above 0 °C through the photothermal effect on sunny days, utilizing both the electrothermal and photothermal effects on cloudy days, and relying on the electrothermal effect during cold nights. The research introduces a novel method for fabricating functional materials, pertinent to practical anti‐icing and de‐icing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper‐based materials are widely used in various fields due to their advantages, such as environmental friendliness and sustainability. However, the highly hydrophilic nature of the cellulose that makes up paper‐based materials limits their use. In this paper, micron/nano‐graphite/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coatings with excellent superhydrophobic and conductive properties were prepared on the surface of filter paper by a simple spraying method. A mixture of micro‐graphite and nano‐graphite was used to form a multistage rough structure on the surface of the filter paper by spraying, and the low surface energy PDMS enhanced the adhesion of the micro‐graphite and nano‐graphite on the surface of the filter paper. The results showed that the samples possessed the best superhydrophobic properties when the ratio of micro‐graphite to nano‐graphite was 1:1, at which time the contact and rolling angles of the samples were 165.4° and 3.2°, respectively. The prepared superhydrophobic samples have good bounce and self‐cleaning properties, while the samples have good mechanical stability and chemical resistance. Additionally, due to the conductivity of micro–nano‐graphite, both particle sizes closely contact the sample surface, creating a conductive network. With a 1:1 ratio of micro‐ and nano‐graphite, the coating exhibits minimal resistance at 1.89 KΩ, and the sample maintains stable conductivity even underwater. The above properties greatly extend the application range of paper‐based superhydrophobic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of ice can cause damage to various equipment, resulting in numerous economic losses. One promising solution for anti/de‐icing is the use of superhydrophobic materials powered by solar energy. In this study, a multilayer superhydrophobic photothermal materials with anti/de‐icing ability is prepared. First, an epoxy resin (EP) substrate with microstructure is prepared by the template method. Then carbon black (CB) nanoparticles are sprayed on the substrate as the photothermal layer. Finally, fluorine‐modified resin is dip‐coated as the hydrophobic modified layer. The light absorption of this material is 1.6 in the wavelength range of 400–2000 nm. The surface temperature rose to 114.2 °C within 270 s under 1 sun illumination. Additionally, the materials can respond to light stimulation and exhibit shape memory, with a shape recovery rate close to 100%. The air cushions in the micro‐nanostructures delayed the droplet freezing time by nearly two times. The good photothermal properties endowed the materials with photothermal de‐icing performance, which improved the de‐icing efficiency by almost 2.2 times. Furthermore, the materials demonstrate outstanding durability that can resist to mechanical wear, acid‐base corrosion, and UV aging, thermal stability, and self‐cleaning properties, making it highly suitable for outdoor equipment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface wetting, the phenomenon where a liquid spreads or adheres to a solid surface, plays a crucial role in both natural and technological fields. This study focuses on elucidating the relationship between surface properties and wetting behavior, emphasizing the significance of hierarchical structures. A 3D hierarchical structure is created by controlling shape and size through electroplating and chemical reactions, adjusted by current intensity, ammonium persulfate, and ammonium hydroxide concentrations. This modification is achieved by modifying the surface's chemical properties. This control directly impacted the surface wetting properties, providing a means to regulate wetting behavior by altering surface structure. Through control of surface chemistry, a superhydrophilic surface is able to successfully create with a contact angle of 0° and a superhydrophobic surface with a contact angle of 171.3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic materials can be used in various fields to optimize production and life due to their unique surface wetting properties. However, under certain pressure and perturbation conditions, the droplets deposited on superhydrophobic materials are prone to change from Cassie state to Wenzel state, which limits the practical applications of the materials. In recent years, a large number of works have investigated the transition behavior, transition mechanism, and influencing factors of the wetting transition that occurs when a superhydrophobic surface is under a series of external environments. Based on these works, in this paper, the phenomenon and kinetic behavior of the destruction of the Cassie state and the mechanism of the wetting transition are systematically summarized under external conditions that promote the wetting transition on the material surface, including pressure, impact, evaporation, vibration, and electric wetting. In addition, superhydrophobic surface morphology has been shown to directly affect the duration of the Cassie state. Based on the published work the effects of specific morphology on the Cassie state, including structural size, structural shape, and structural level, are summarized in this paper from theoretical analyses and experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dealing with the oil–water separation process, improving the oil–water selectivity of the membrane surface and increasing the porosity within the membrane are effective means to achieve durable and efficient oil–water separation. Therefore, polystyrene/polyacrylonitrile‐polyvinylidene fluoride/Polydimethylsiloxane Fe3O4 nanoparticles (PS/PAN‐PVDF/PDMS@Fe3O4) composite membranes with superhydrophobicity and lipophilicity were prepared by electrospinning technique. By controlling the filling concentration of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, a stable superhydrophobic and lipophilic rough structure was constructed, and micro–nano multilayer rough voids existed inside the membrane. The results showed that the composite fiber membrane exhibited exceptional superhydrophobicity (156.2°), thermal stability (338°C), mechanical properties (tensile strength of 3.0 MPa, elongation of 33.9%), and oil adsorption capacity (30–100 g/g). Moreover, even under corrosive environments, this composite fiber membrane maintained its superhydrophobic properties (above 152°) and achieved high oil–water separation efficiency (above 97%). Remarkably, after 40 cycles, the composite membrane could sustain a separation flux of 5000 L m−2 h−1. Consequently, the composite fiber membrane manufactured using this strategy exhibits promising potential for applications in oil–water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superhydrophobic coatings, known for their water‐repelling properties, play an important role in corrosion resistance and self‐cleaning applications. This study addresses the pressing need for eco‐friendly and durable fabrication methods for metal surfaces, particularly Al alloys, recognized for their inherent low mechanical properties. The innovative electroplating technique successfully fabricates superhydrophobic coatings on Al alloy surfaces, incorporating a high‐hardness Ni–Cr alloys layer and a low‐surface‐energy stearic acid layer. The resulting coatings exhibit outstanding mechanical durability, corrosion resistance, and self‐cleaning capabilities. With a water contact angle of 165° and a corrosion protection efficiency of 98.6%, these coatings offer a substantial improvement over traditional methods. Moreover, the Leeb hardness of the coated alloy experiences an impressive 83% increase compared to pristine Al alloy. This universally applicable approach opens avenues for developing mechanically robust superhydrophobic coatings on various metallic substrates, with broad implications for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the occurrence of offshore oil spills, the recovery of viscous oil continues to be a significant issue. The multi‐functional sponge with superhydrophobic, absorption of high viscosity oil is an effective approach to settle this problem. In this work, the melamine‐formaldehyde (MF) sponge was the backbone and doped with polydopamine (PDA) to mimic mussels. Subsequently, candle soot nanoparticles (CS) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were applied to modify the MF sponge into a superhydrophobic sponge (P‐CS‐PDA@MF) (WCA = 153.56°). The P‐CS‐PDA@MF sponge showed good absorption properties for many oils and organic solvents (33.87–78.90 times of its own weight). In addition, the P‐CS‐PDA@MF sponge also showed outstanding chemical stability, low density (0.013 g/cm3), emulsion‐breaking ability and flame retardancy. More interestingly, the P‐CS‐PDA@MF sponge showed superior photothermal conversion capability, the temperature of it increased to approximately 91°C within 100 s under simulated sunlight from room temperature (about 25°C), and the sorption capacity of viscous oils was significantly increased. Moreover, the P‐CS‐PDA@MF sponge exhibited a high efficiency (over 97%) for separating viscous oils/water mixtures with the aid of sunlight. This versatile and efficient multifunctional P‐CS‐PDA@MF sponge via a simple and low‐cost way shows promising prospect in oily wastewater treatment and water ecosystem remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a black ceramic coating is produced on the surface of 7075 aluminum alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) in a silicate electrolyte containing ammonium metavanadate (NH4VO3). The PEO processed sample is further subjected to hydrothermal treatment (HT) and fluorination treatment (FT) to obtain a superhydrophobic PEO/HT/FT coating. The 21‐day air durability test and the tape stripping test show that the superhydrophobic surface shows excellent air durability and mechanical durability. The antireflection test study shows that the average antireflection of the PEO/HT/FT coating is as high as 96.6% in the wavelength range between 400 and 1000 nm. Furthermore, electrochemical test results show that the corrosion current density of the PEO/HT/FT coating decreases to 2.49 × 10−6 A cm−2, three orders of magnitude lower than the aluminum substrate, and the anticorrosion efficiency is as high as 99.87%. The preparation of PEO/HT/FT coating provides more methods for the wide application of Al alloy in aerospace field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicone rubber is widely used in medical and equipment manufacturing fields due to its excellent sealing and solvent resistance. However, the hydrophobicity of silicone rubber was unsatisfactory for many advanced engineering structures and applications. Generally, the preparation of artificial superhydrophobic materials suffered from either complicated in process or poor in environmental protection. Here, we reported a simple method to prepare silicone rubber composites with excellent superhydrophobic properties (water contact angle [WCA] = 155.2°) from low‐cost hydrophilic silica. Tests showed that the uniform micro‐nano structures were the key to the superhydrophobic properties of silicone rubber composites. The bounce test observed the rebound of water droplets with different initial velocities (0.77, 1, and 2 m/s) impacting silicone rubber surface, and verified the great advantages of silicone rubber modified by silica in hydrophobic. The modification method shown in this work provides a simple way to manufacture non‐fluorinated, robustness superhydrophobic surfaces for a wide range of potential applications. Highlights: Based on the improvement of micro‐nano structure of the matrix surface by industrial silica, the preparation of superhydrophobic silicone rubber composites was realized.A process method for preparing fluorine‐free superhydrophobic silicone rubber composites from hydrophilic silica was proposed.Stretchability and robustness were the key factors for successful superhydrophobic modification of silicone rubber elastomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared an environmentally friendly intelligent Fe3O4@PMMA@PDMS superhydrophobic oil‐absorbing material with simple process and excellent performance, and investigated the effects of different particle sizes of Fe3O4, different concentrations of PDMS, and different heating times on the superhydrophobicity of the coating. The best performance of the coating was achieved at a particle size combination of 20/500 nm for Fe3O4, a PDMS to Fe3O4@PMMA mass ratio of 6 : 1, and a heating time of 2 min at 400 °C. H2‐SPSS coating not only has excellent superhydrophobicity, abrasion resistance, self‐cleaning property, and chemical corrosion, but also has good flux and efficiency for separating oil‐water mixture, with fluxes of 40,540, 32,432, and 37,027 Lm−2h−1 for trichloromethane, dichloromethane and bromoethane, respectively, and separation efficiencies of 99.78 %, 99.74 % and 99.73 %, respectively. In addition, we also prepared a superhydrophobic magnetic polyurethane (SPPU) sponge using Fe3O4@PMMA@PDMS, which not only has a good oil absorption capacity of 18–44 g/g for different oil substances, it can also move directionally by magnet attraction and absorb oil along a fixed path. Under the control of the magnet, SPPU completes the whole oil absorption process in only 4 s, showing excellent oil absorption and intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a great deal of research about airflow sensors by far, it is still hard to maintain ultra‐low limit of detection, short response, and recovery time under humid and rainy environment, which compromises its practical applications. Herein, a robust bridge‐type airflow sensor base on flexible superhydrophobic carbon nanotube fiber thin films is developed, which can not only own remarkable sensitive properties with ultra‐low limit of detection, fast response, and rapid recovery, but also exclude the influence of moisture or water drops in real applications. Both response time and recovery time are reduced compared with that of the previously reported flexible carbon‐based airflow sensors. Particularly, recovery time is reduced by ≈2/3. Meanwhile, the superhydrophobic structure renders normal functioning of the sensor in severe environment of high humidity or even in the rain, so that the influence of moisture and raindrops can be excluded, a property deficient in the previously reported airflow sensors. Not only can the sensor detect ambient airflow sensitively, but it also exhibits outstanding performance in respiratory health monitoring. Hence, the novel sensor designed in this work realizes operation in the environment of high humidity and rain, which tremendously uplifts the applicability of flexible sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient and simple separation of oil–water mixtures has been a global challenge due to the growing problem of oily wastewater. To address this issue, various materials with special wetting properties and functionality have been developed in the past decades for oil–water separation. In this study, a superhydrophobic cellulose acetate (CA) functional coating was prepared by electrostatic spraying of CA and chemical vapor deposition of methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) on a stainless steel mesh (SSM). Water contact angle in air (WCA) of the resulting coating is154° or more, and oil under water contact angle (UWOCA) is 0°. Simultaneously, the separation flux of the resulting coating for oil–water mixtures is as high as 23977.77 L·m−2·h−1, with separation efficiencies exceeding 99%. Due to its excellent water repellency, the CA functional coating can effectively separate oil and water, and can be easily dried for continuous use. Furthermore, the CA functional coating exhibits good stability in salt solutions and acidic environments, making it an ideal material for addressing oily wastewater challenges. Highlights: The coating obtained by electrostatic spraying and CVD was superhydrophobic.The separation flux and separation efficiencies of coatings is 23977.77 L·m−2·h−1 and 99%.Coatings remain stable under polar environment conditions (pH = 2–12 and NaCl = 1–3 mol/L). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smart nanocomposite adhesive was created to facilitate a simple production of long‐persistent photoluminescent and hydrophobic commercial products. Even after being left in the dark for up to 90 min, the created photoluminescent adhesive agent continued to generate light. A surface‐specific nanocomposite adhesive agent consisting of lanthanide‐activated strontium aluminate (LSA) nanoparticles (NPs; 5–14 nm) immobilized in the environmentally friendly Arabic gum (AG) was developed. A light‐transmitting nanocomposite adhesive agent was manufactured by dispersing LSA nanoparticles evenly across the AG matrix without agglomeration. An excitation peak at 365 nm and an emission wavelength at 519 nm were observed for the prepared adhesives at different concentrations of LSA NPs. The emission spectra showed either fluorescence or afterglow phosphorescence, depending on the LSA ratio. The photochromic transition from colourless to green beneath an ultraviolet (UV) lamp and greenish yellow in a dark room was tracked. The LSA NPs in the Arabic gum matrix imparted enhanced hydrophobicity and scratch resistance to the LSA@AG nanocomposite. The LSA@AG nanocomposite demonstrated excellent durability and photostability. This study confirmed that the mass production of smart adhesives for applications such as smart windows, smart packaging, and safety directional signs in buildings is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]