Microskeleton-Nanofiller Composite with Mechanical Super-Robust Superhydrophobicity against Abrasion and Impact

Superhydrophobic surfaces have promised tremendous applications in living and industrial areas for the past two decades. Real applications, however, meet challenges, with the central concern being the robustness to resist mechanical abrasions and impacts. Here, a revolutionary strategy is proposed to create a microskeleton-nanofiller (MSNF) film with exceptionally mechanical superstable superhydrophobicity. The strategy is conceptually different from the traditional superhydrophobic 3D microskeleton, because a 3D microskeleton is used to completely fill in the infused superhydrophobic medium. The resulting MSNF film can reserve superhydrophobicity under not only continuous abrasion before the complete wearing off the film, but also Taber abrasion, knife-scratch, and cyclic tape peels. In addition, the MSNF film enables damage resistance to heavy impact at least up to a kinetic energy of approximate to 40.2 J. Furthermore, the MSNF film is also superamphiphobic to prevent oil contamination and can reserve the superhydrophobicity under large bending or torsion. Together with robustness and scalability, the MSNF film will be useful in automobiles, ships, aircraft, and houses in harsh environments and the strategy can extend to various inexpensive structured materials (such as porous iron).