Bioinspired Nanostructures for Combined Hydrophobicity and Light Propagation: From Natural Prototypes to Applications
Xuanqi Luo1,2, Li Wang2, Zichao Yuan1
1State Key Laboratory of High-Performance Precision Manufacturing, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 17, 2026
Summary
Bioinspired nanostructures combining light propagation and hydrophobicity offer adaptive interfaces. This review explores their mechanisms, applications, and design strategies for advanced optical materials.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Bioinspired nanostructures integrate hydrophobicity and light propagation for adaptive interfaces.
- Independent study of optical and hydrophobic properties limits multifunctional surface development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of coupled light propagation and hydrophobicity in bioinspired nanostructures.
- To analyze mechanisms, synergistic effects, trade-offs, and applications of these integrated surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Review of biological prototypes, structure classification, and fundamental theories.
- Analysis of fabrication strategies focusing on performance, robustness, and cost.
- Exploration of advanced concepts like slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs) and AI-assisted design.
Main Results:
- Identified synergistic effects and trade-offs between optical and wetting properties.
- Highlighted diverse applications in solar energy, sensors, security, and medicine.
- Discussed potential of integrating SLIPSs and AI for optimized multifunctional interfaces.
Conclusions:
- Coupling hydrophobicity and light propagation in bioinspired nanostructures enables next-generation adaptive optical materials.
- Integrated framework guides future design of multifunctional surfaces with tailored optical and wetting behaviors.
Keywords:
bioinspired nanostructureshydrophobicityinterfacial engineeringlight manipulationmultifunctional surfaces
