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Green Materials in Superhydrophobic Coatings

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 378

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Intelligent Manufacturing, Nanyang Institute of Technology, Nanyang, China
Interests: nano additive; surface functionalization; superhydrophobic materials for environmental applications

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Guest Editor
1. State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
2. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacture for Vehicle Body, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Interests: high-performance lubricants; plant-based waxes and oils; green solvent processing; natural composites; environmentally benign modification

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Interests: intelligent manufacturing and design of lightweight materials; studies on heat and mass transfer model of fuel cell; preparation and development of high-performance lubrication-resistant components; life cycle assessment and failure behavior analysis of metal materials
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

(1) Introduction

Superhydrophobic coatings, characterized by extreme water repellency, have emerged as a transformative technology with applications in self-cleaning surfaces, anti-corrosion, energy efficiency, and biomedical devices. However, traditional superhydrophobic materials often rely on synthetic chemicals, fluorinated compounds, or nonbiodegradable polymers, raising concerns regarding environmental pollution, toxicity, and long-term sustainability. In recent years, the global push toward green chemistry and circular economy principles has driven a shift toward developing superhydrophobic coatings from renewable, biodegradable, or nontoxic raw materials. This research area bridges materials science, surface engineering, and sustainability, aiming to balance functional performance with ecological responsibility. 

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, which seeks to showcase cutting-edge research focused on green materials for superhydrophobic coatings, addressing the urgent need for environmentally friendly solutions in surface technology. 

(2) Aim of the Special Issue 

This Special Issue aims to highlight advancements in the design, synthesis, and application of sustainable materials for superhydrophobic coatings. It will focus on materials derived from natural resources (e.g., biomass, biopolymers), recyclable or biodegradable polymers, non-fluorinated formulations, and eco-friendly fabrication processes. This subject matter aligns with the scope of Materials due to our emphasis on collating multidisciplinary research at the intersection of materials science, environmental science, and engineering, promoting innovation that balances technological progress with ecological sustainability. The goal of this Special Issue is to compile at least 10 high-quality articles, which may be published in book form upon reaching this threshold. 

(3) Suggested Themes and Article Types 

Original research articles and review papers are welcome to be submitted. Potential research areas include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • Synthesis of green precursors (e.g., cellulose, chitosan, lignin, natural waxes) for superhydrophobic surfaces;
  • Development of non-fluorinated, low-toxicity superhydrophobic coatings; 
  • Sustainable fabrication methods (e.g., aqueous-based processes, low-energy synthesis, 3D printing); 
  • Surface modification of green materials for hierarchical roughness and chemical hydrophobicity; 
  • Durability and recyclability of eco-friendly superhydrophobic coatings; 
  • Applications in environmental remediation, renewable energy, or biomedical devices; 
  • Lifecycle assessment and sustainability metrics for superhydrophobic materials. 

We look forward to receiving your contributions to advance the development of sustainable superhydrophobic technology. 

Dr. Siyuan Wang
Dr. Guanlin Ren
Prof. Dr. Ding Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • superhydrophobic coatings
  • green materials
  • sustainable synthesis
  • green chemistry
  • biopolymers
  • eco-friendly fabrication
  • biomass-derived materials
  • durability
  • environmental applications
  • circular economy

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

47 pages, 9723 KB  
Review
Green Superhydrophobic Surfaces: From Natural Substrates to Sustainable Fabrication Processes
by Siyuan Wang, Hengyuan Liu, Gang Liu, Pengfei Song, Jingyi Liu, Zhao Liang, Ding Chen and Guanlin Ren
Materials 2025, 18(18), 4270; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18184270 - 12 Sep 2025
Viewed by 151
Abstract
Superhydrophobic surfaces, characterized by water contact angles greater than 150°, have attracted widespread interest due to their exceptional water repellency and multifunctional applications. However, traditional fabrication methods often rely on fluorinated compounds and petroleum-based polymers, raising environmental and health concerns. In response to [...] Read more.
Superhydrophobic surfaces, characterized by water contact angles greater than 150°, have attracted widespread interest due to their exceptional water repellency and multifunctional applications. However, traditional fabrication methods often rely on fluorinated compounds and petroleum-based polymers, raising environmental and health concerns. In response to growing environmental and health problems, recent research has increasingly focused on developing green superhydrophobic surfaces, employing eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient processes, and non-toxic modifiers. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in the development of green superhydrophobic materials, focusing on the use of natural substrates such as cellulose, chitosan, starch, lignin, and silk fibroin. Sustainable fabrication techniques, including spray coating, dip coating, sol–gel processing, electrospinning, laser texturing, and self-assembly, are critically discussed with regards to their environmental compatibility, scalability, and integration with biodegradable components. Furthermore, the functional performance of these coatings is explored in diverse application fields, including self-cleaning, oil–water separation, anti-corrosion, anti-icing, food packaging, and biomedical devices. Key challenges such as mechanical durability, substrate adhesion, and large-scale processing are addressed, alongside emerging strategies that combine green chemistry with surface engineering. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on the design and deployment of eco-friendly superhydrophobic surfaces, aiming to accelerate their practical implementation across sustainable technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Materials in Superhydrophobic Coatings)
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