Superhydrophobic Surfaces: Insights from Theory and Experiment

Biomimetic nanosurfaces with distinct wettability and versatility have found special enthusiasm in both fundamental research and industrial applications. With the advent of nanotechnology, it is doable to acclimate surface architecture and surface chemistry to attain superhydrophobicity. The uniqueness of superhydrophobic surfaces arises from various phenomenal advances, and its progress is expected to continue for decades in the future. In this Review Article, we discuss recent progress made in defining physical aspects of numerical modeling, experimental practices adopted, and applications of superhydrophobic surfaces. First, we revisit various classical models of superhydrophobicity and recent theoretical advances achieved related to the wetting phenomena. Subsequently, we emphasize various precursors and advance fabrication strategies adopted to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces. In the following section, we take up various potential applications and appropriate working principles to explain wettability phenomena. Finally, some general conclusions are drawn along with proposed guidelines for designing robust superhydrophobic coatings.