About this Research Topic
Inspired by the various superwetting phenomena observed in nature, various kinds of superwettabilities (e.g., superhydrophilicity, superhydrophobicity, superoleophilicity, superoleophobicity, superaerophilicity, superaerophobicity, and super-slippery properties) are usually obtained by the combination of proper surface microstructures and chemical composition. Although many important achievements in superwettability have been accomplished in the past two decades, the development of superwetting materials is still in its early stages. There are still many challenges that need to be addressed. For example, more research is required to further understand the forming principle of different superwetting systems. The fundamental theory plays a very important guiding role in fabrication and applications of superwetting surfaces. The relationship between different superwettabilities should also be studied, because it is important in the design of different superwetting microstructures, the interconversion between different superwettabilities, and better application of the artificial superwetting materials. This Research Topic presents recent developments of different superwetting surfaces inspired by nature, mainly focusing on the classification, design principles, and relationship between different types of superwettabilities. Subjects covered may include:
• Fundamentals of superwetting systems: classification, formation principle, and achievement of different superwetting properties
• Relationship between different superwettabilities: how to extend from one superwettability to other superwettabilities and achieve the interconversion between different superwettabilities
• Development of artificial superwetting materials from the laboratory stage to the industrialization and real applications: simple, rapid, efficient, low-cost technologies for constructing superwetting surfaces with high mechanical and chemical durability
• Novel superwetting phenomena
• Advanced applications of artificial materials with superwettability properties
Keywords: superwetting, surface, bioinspired, biomimetics, functional surfaces
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