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| (a)–(f) Video clips showing a water droplet bouncing off a superhydrophobic black platinum surface. The surface has a tilt angle of 8°. Citation: J. Appl. Phys. 117, 033103 (2015); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4905616 |
The ability to repel water has so many potential uses. It can help prevent corrosion as well as the growth of organisms; it means objects need to be cleaned less often, since water can't cling long enough to evaporate and leave behind residue; and it can prevent ice from forming.
Current methods usually involve a hydrophobic coating -- a technique that is prone to damage, since the coating is usually ultrathin and needs to be reapplied every few years. A new technique developed by researchers at the University of Rochester, however, can make a surface hydrophobic without the use of coatings.
