Recent developments in superhydrophobic surfaces and their relevance to marine fouling: a review.
In this review, a brief synopsis of superhydrophobicity (i.e. extreme non-wettability) and its implications on marine fouling are presented. A short overview of wettability and recent experimental developments aimed at fabricating superhydrophobic surfaces by tailoring their chemical nature and physical appearance (i.e. substratum texture) are reviewed. The formation of responsive/"smart" surfaces, which adjust their physico-chemical properties to variations in some outside physical stimulus, including light, temperature, electric field, or solvent, is also described. Finally, implications of tailoring the surface chemistry, texture, and responsiveness of surfaces on the design of effective marine fouling coatings are considered and discussed.
Genzer
Jan
J
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA. Jan_Genzer@ncsu.edu
Efimenko
Kirill
K
D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008386:Marine Biology; D013499:Surface Properties; D017155:Wettability