Approaching super-hydrophobicity from cellulosic materials: A Review

The development of super-hydrophobic surfaces has been inspired by natural systems and uses a number of novel (nano) technologies. Superhydrophobicity has stimulated much scientific and industrial interest because of applications in water repellency, selfcleaning, friction reduction, antifouling, etc. Despite its inherent hydrophilicity, cellulose has unparalleled advantages as a substrate for the production of superhydrophobic materials. This is because of its abundance, biodegradability and unique physical, chemical and mechanical properties that compare advantageously with the non-renewable materials typically used. This review includes a comprehensive survey of the progress achieved so far in the production of super-hydrophobic materials based on cellulose. Emphasis is placed on the effects of cellulose surface chemistry and topography, both of which affect hydrophobicity. Overall, this contribution summarizes some of the aspects that are critical to advance this evolving field of science.