Stretchable Superhydrophobic Coatings

Abstract

Superhydrophobic coatings are widely utilized in self-cleaning, liquid manipulation, anti-icing, water harvesting and many other fields. Coatings are considered to be superhydrophobic when they are constructed with hierarchical protrusions on the nano- and/or microscale, with water droplets deposited on specific materials possessing a static contact angle of >150° and a sliding/rolling-off angle of <10°. This state is realized by integrating hierarchical structures and the low-surface energy of the materials that form the coating. The durability of superhydrophobic coatings is an essential factor when considering practical applications. Stretchable superhydrophobic coatings became an alternative solution since the flexibility can significantly protect against mechanical damage and daily operations. During the past decade, researchers have invested significant effort into developing stretchable superhydrophobic coatings to broaden further possible applications. An overview of stretchable superhydrophobic coatings is presented in this chapter, with a particular focus on the status of current processing strategies and potential applications. A perspective on future fabrication techniques for developing robust superhydrophobic coatings is also provided.