Scientists at Rice University, the University of Swansea, the University of Bristol and the University of Nice – Sophia Antipolis have developed a new class of hydrocarbon-based material that they say could be “greener” substitute for fluorocarbon-based materials currently used to repel water.
The superhydrophobic coating, seen through a scanning electron microscope
Rice chemist Andrew Barron led the research. He says the team took inspiration from the lotus leaf – one of the most hydrophobic (water-repelling) surfaces known – which is actually made up of a hierarchy of double structures on the microscopic and nano scales. Read more
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