Engineering biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces of electrospun nanomaterials

SummaryBiomimetics provides a model for developments of functional surfaces with special wettability. Recently, manufacturing bio-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces has become an increasingly hot research topic. The electrospinning technique is a versatile and effective method for manufacturing nanomaterials with controllable compositions and structures, and therefore provides an ideal strategy for construction of superhydrophobic surfaces on a large scale. After a brief description of several superhydrophobic surfaces inspired by nature, we highlighted the recent progresses in design and fabrication of these bio-inspired superhydrophobic surfaces via electrospinning technique. The studies on the switchable wettability of nanofibrous surface brought about by external stimuli are also addressed. We conclude with a summary of current and future research efforts and opportunities in the development of electrospun nanomaterials for superhydrophobic applications.

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► Electrospun superhydrophobic structures inspired by nature were highlighted.
► Surface modification of electrospun nanofibers could introduce rough structure as well as low surface energy materials on pre-formed fibrous surfaces.
► Roughening hydrophobic materials through electrospinning provides a one-step strategy to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces.
► Current research on the reversibly switchable wettability of fibrous surface is briefly addressed.
► Future challenges and perspectives of the development of superhydrophobic micro- and nanofibrous surfaces are concluded.