Superhydrophobic ZnO Nanowires: Wettability Mechanisms and Functional Applications

Abstract

Superhydrophobic surfaces are important parts of many applications in cleaning and protective coatings. Such surfaces can be realized by controlling the surface chemistry and nanoscale structure. Elongated ZnO nanostructures, called nanowires, are often used in superhydrophobic applications due to their intrinsic characteristic advantages and simple synthesis control. This review presents a critical overview of the latest research activities focused on the ZnO nanowire superhydrophobic surfaces. A wettability mechanism background is introduced with the overlay of the crystal structure fundamentals adapted for ZnO nanowires to gain insights into the multifunction application of superhydrophobic ZnO nanowires. Moreover, the latest achievements in application of ZnO superhydrophobic nanowires or reversible wettability for self-cleaning, separation, antifogging, antibacterial, and other applications are outlined. Finally, a brief outlook on the issues and emerging perspectives of ZnO nanowire wettability research is summarized.