Superhydrophobic surfaces: From the lotus leaf to the submarine

In this review we discuss the current state of the art in evaluating the fabrication and performance of biomimetic superhydrophobic materials and their applications in engineering sciences. Superhydrophobicity, often referred to as the lotus effect, could be utilized to design surfaces with minimal skin-friction drag for applications such as self-cleaning and energy conservation. We start by discussing the concept of the lotus effect and continue to present a review of the recent advances in manufacturing superhydrophobic surfaces with ordered and disordered microstructures. We then present a discussion on the resistance of the air-water interface to elevated pressures-the phenomenon that enables a water strider to walk on water. We conclude the article by presenting a brief overview of the latest advancements in studying the longevity of submerged superhydrophobic surfaces for underwater applications. (C) 2011 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.