From natural lotus leaf to highly hard-flexible diamond-like carbon surface with superhydrophobic and good tribological performance

► DLC films with “lotus leaf”-like textures were fabricated using natural lotus leaf as template. ► The as-prepared DLC film exhibited good balance of high hardness and excellent flexibility. ► The final textured DLC film was improved with excellent superhydrophobicity. ► The final flexible and superhydrophobic DLC films could remain as an effective lubricant layer.