Superhydrophobic surfaces developed by mimicking hierarchical surface morphology of lotus leaf.
The lotus plant is recognized as a 'King plant' among all the natural water repellent plants due to its excellent non-wettability. The superhydrophobic surfaces exhibiting the famous 'Lotus Effect', along with extremely high water contact angle (>150°) and low sliding angle (<10°), have been broadly investigated and extensively applied on variety of substrates for potential self-cleaning and anti-corrosive applications. Since 1997, especially after the exploration of the surface micro/nanostructure and chemical composition of the lotus leaves by the two German botanists Barthlott and Neinhuis, many kinds of superhydrophobic surfaces mimicking the lotus leaf-like structure have been widely reported in the literature. This review article briefly describes the different wetting properties of the natural superhydrophobic lotus leaves and also provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art discussion on the extensive research carried out in the field of artificial superhydrophobic surfaces which are developed by mimicking the lotus leaf-like dual scale micro/nanostructure. This review article could be beneficial for both novice researchers in this area as well as the scientists who are currently working on non-wettable, superhydrophobic surfaces.
Photocatalysis International Research Center, Research Institute for Science & Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.
Sanjay S
SS
Latthe
Photocatalysis International Research Center, Research Institute for Science & Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.
Chiaki
C
Terashima
Photocatalysis International Research Center, Research Institute for Science & Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan.
Kazuya
K
Nakata
Photocatalysis International Research Center, Research Institute for Science & Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan. fujishima_akira@admin.tus.ac.jp.
Akira
A
Fujishima
D040761:Biomimetic Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D000070116:Lotus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry*; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D014867:Water; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene