Metallic Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces on metal objects has a wide range of applications, including the optimization of performance of construction materials, marine crafts, aircrafts, automobiles, refrigeration machines, wind power stations, and medical devices, among many others. Therefore, one of the key features of man-made superhydrophobic surfaces is a particular surface structure. In this chapter, a universal one-step structuring technique-ablation by ultra-short pulsed laser irradiation-that can be applied to all metals is introduced. Different structure types that can be generated by this technique, together with investigations of their wetting properties, are presented. The influence of laser irradiation on the modification of the chemical composition of metal surfaces is discussed. The wetting performance of superhydrophobic metal surfaces, both with and without an additional low-surface-energy polymer coating, is outlined. A solution for maintaining superhydrophobic properties under special ambient conditions (e.g., at high pressures or temperatures) is reviewed.