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Recent Advances in Superhydrophobic Materials and Their Application
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Recent Advances in Superhydrophobic Materials and Their Application

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 2153

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Chaolang Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Interests: separation technology; wettability; surface and interface
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Shanshan Jia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Forestry, Sichuan Agriculture University, Chengdu 611130, China
Interests: wood-based functional materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lei Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Interests: functional coatings; self-assembly; surface wettability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I invite you to submit your recent research work to the Special Issue titled “Recent Advances in Superhydrophobic Materials and their Application”. This Special Issue aims at collecting studies that show the progress in the theory, fabrication, and application of superhydrophobic surfaces. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Material Innovations
Nano-Textured Surfaces: Advances in nanotechnology have allowed for the creation of surfaces with extreme roughness at the nanoscale, which enhances water repellency. Materials like carbon nanotubes and nanofibers are being used to develop these textures.

Polymeric Coatings: New polymer-based coatings, such as fluorinated polymers, provide robust hydrophobic properties. These coatings can be applied to a variety of substrates including metals, glass, and fabrics.
Hybrid Materials: Combining organic and inorganic components has led to the development of hybrid materials that exhibit enhanced durability and superhydrophobicity, for example, silica nanoparticles embedded in polymer matrices.

Bio-Inspired Materials: Mimicking natural superhydrophobic surfaces, such as lotus leaves and insect wings, researchers have developed bio-inspired materials. These materials often combine micro- and nanoscale textures to achieve superhydrophobicity.

2. Applications.

  • Self-Cleaning Surfaces
    Architectural Applications: Buildings and windows coated with superhydrophobic materials stay cleaner for longer periods, reducing maintenance costs and water usage.
    Solar Panels: Superhydrophobic coatings on solar panels prevent dust and dirt accumulation, maintaining efficiency by ensuring maximum light absorption.
  • Anti-Corrosion Coatings
    Marine Applications: Ships and underwater structures benefit from superhydrophobic coatings that prevent biofouling and corrosion, extending their operational life.
    Industrial Equipment: Coating machinery and equipment in corrosive environments with superhydrophobic materials reduces downtime and maintenance costs.
  • Oil–Water Separation
    Environmental Remediation: Superhydrophobic and oleophilic materials are used in devices for separating oil from water, aiding in the cleanup of oil spills.
    Industrial Processes: The efficient separation of oil and water in various industrial processes leads to improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact.
  • Anti-Icing and Deicing
    Aerospace: Superhydrophobic coatings on aircraft surfaces prevent ice accumulation, enhancing safety and reducing the need for deicing chemicals.
    Power Lines: Coating power lines with superhydrophobic materials prevents ice buildup, reducing the risk of power outages during winter.
  • Textiles and Clothing
    Waterproof Fabrics: Clothing and outdoor gear treated with superhydrophobic coatings remain dry and clean, enhancing comfort and functionality.
    Medical Textiles: Superhydrophobic coatings on medical textiles prevent contamination and improve hygiene.
  • Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Devices
    Biomedical Applications: Superhydrophobic surfaces in microfluidic devices control fluid movement with high precision, which is useful in diagnostic devices and lab-on-a-chip technologies.
    Chemical Analysis: Enhanced control of fluid flow in analytical devices leads to more accurate and efficient chemical analyses.
  • Sensors: The super-hydrophobic coating enables some flexible electronic skins to be used in wet environments or underwater.

Dr. Chaolang Chen
Prof. Dr. Shanshan Jia
Dr. Lei Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • superhydrophobic
  • bionic surface
  • self-cleaning
  • anti-corrosion
  • oil–water separation
  • anti-icing and deicing
  • electronic devices
  • seawater desalination

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4190 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Adsorption and Corrosion Protection Efficacy and Mechanism of Marjoram Extract on Mild Steel in HCl Medium
by Malika Sabiha, Younes Kerroum, Maha El Hawary, Maria Boudalia, Abdelkbir Bellaouchou, Othmane Hammani and Hatem M. A. Amin
Molecules 2025, 30(2), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020272 - 11 Jan 2025
Viewed by 814
Abstract
In recent years, the anti-corrosive properties of natural extracts as environmentally friendly inhibitors have gained considerable interest. This study evaluates the potential of Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) essential oil (OML), collected from Salé, Morocco, as a corrosion inhibitor for mild [...] Read more.
In recent years, the anti-corrosive properties of natural extracts as environmentally friendly inhibitors have gained considerable interest. This study evaluates the potential of Marjoram (Origanum majorana L.) essential oil (OML), collected from Salé, Morocco, as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1 M HCl medium. The protection performance of OML was assessed using various electrochemical techniques, including potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), as well as the weight loss method. The influence of OML concentration and temperature on the inhibition performance were investigated. OML demonstrated pronounced inhibitory benefits via increasing the corrosion resistance of mild steel in the corrosive HCl solution, thus reducing the corrosion rate to 0.11 mg cm−2 h−1 and increasing the inhibition efficiency to 87.1% at an inhibitor concentration of 500 ppm. PDP confirmed that the inhibitor works as a mixed-type inhibitor with cathodic supremacy. EIS revealed that the charge transfer mechanism is the main controlling factor for the corrosion process. The thermodynamic parameters suggested a key role of OML physisorption in inhibition, following the Langmuir isotherm. Importantly, SEM and EDX analyses suggested the formation of a protective layer of the extract onto the steel surface, which shields the surface from corrosive species. This is owed to the functional group-rich phytochemicals of OML. Therefore, the development of bio-based corrosion inhibitors is not only a step towards more eco-friendly industrial practices, but also meets the growing demand for sustainable materials in a world with constrained resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Superhydrophobic Materials and Their Application)
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20 pages, 5958 KiB  
Article
Scalable Fabrication of Light-Responsive Superhydrophobic Composite Phase Change Materials via Bionic-Engineered Wood for Solar–Thermal Energy Management
by Yang Meng, Jiangyu Zhang, Yuchan Li, Hui Jiang and Delong Xie
Molecules 2025, 30(1), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30010168 - 4 Jan 2025
Viewed by 624
Abstract
The growing demand for sustainable energy storage solutions has underscored the importance of phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy management. However, traditional PCMs are always inherently constrained by issues such as leakage, poor thermal conductivity, and lack of solar energy conversion capacity. [...] Read more.
The growing demand for sustainable energy storage solutions has underscored the importance of phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy management. However, traditional PCMs are always inherently constrained by issues such as leakage, poor thermal conductivity, and lack of solar energy conversion capacity. Herein, a multifunctional composite phase change material (CPCM) is developed using a balsa-derived morphology genetic scaffold, engineered via bionic catechol surface chemistry. The scaffold undergoes selective delignification, followed by a simple, room-temperature polydopamine (PDA) modification to deposit Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and graft octadecyl chains, resulting in a superhydrophobic hierarchical structure. This superhydrophobicity plays a critical role in preventing PCM leakage and enhancing environmental adaptability, ensuring long-term stability under diverse conditions. Encapsulating stearic acid (SA) as the PCM, the CPCM exhibits exceptional stability, achieving a high latent heat of 175.5 J g−1 and an energy storage efficiency of 87.7%. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the CPCM is significantly enhanced along the longitudinal direction, a 2.1-fold increase compared to pure SA, due to the integration of Ag NPs and the unidirectional wood architecture. This synergy also drives efficient photothermal conversion via π-π stacking interactions of PDA and the surface plasmon effects of Ag NPs, enabling rapid solar-to-thermal energy conversion. Moreover, the CPCM demonstrates remarkable water resistance, self-cleaning ability, and long-term thermal reliability, retaining its functionality through 100 heating–cooling cycles. This multifunctional balsa-based CPCM represents a breakthrough in integrating phase-change behavior with advanced environmental adaptability, offering promising applications in solar–thermal energy systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Superhydrophobic Materials and Their Application)
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Review

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34 pages, 1294 KiB  
Review
Research Advances and Future Perspectives of Superhydrophobic Coatings in Sports Equipment Applications
by Guoyuan Huang, Yingqing Guo, Byungchan Lee, Hong Chen and Aqiang Mao
Molecules 2025, 30(3), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30030644 - 31 Jan 2025
Viewed by 333
Abstract
In recent years, superhydrophobic coatings have attracted much attention due to their excellent water repellency and self-cleaning properties. They have broad application prospects in improving the performance and durability of sports equipment (such as clothing, footwear, balls, and protective equipment). Recent studies have [...] Read more.
In recent years, superhydrophobic coatings have attracted much attention due to their excellent water repellency and self-cleaning properties. They have broad application prospects in improving the performance and durability of sports equipment (such as clothing, footwear, balls, and protective equipment). Recent studies have shown that these coatings can improve water repellency, reduce friction, enhance traction, and extend the service life of sports equipment by preventing water absorption and reducing dirt accumulation. Despite their potential, the practical application of superhydrophobic coatings still faces many challenges, including difficulties in coating preparation, limited long-term durability, and high production costs that prevent large-scale production. This paper begins with an analysis of the current status of superhydrophobic coatings in sports equipment, from theory to application, from the basic Young’s model to the novel Contact Line Pinning Model, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of several methods in some aspects, focusing on the most commonly used preparation methods, including the template method, the gel–gel method, the deposition method, etc., and objectively analyzing the preparation methods to match the appropriate sports equipment applications. Despite these advances, there are still significant gaps in understanding the long-term performance of these coatings under real-world conditions. The paper concludes by identifying future research directions, with a focus on improving wear resistance, improving cost-effectiveness, and assessing the environmental impact of these materials. These insights will contribute to the continued development and application of superhydrophobic coatings in the field of sports equipment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Superhydrophobic Materials and Their Application)
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