Superhydrophobicity: Unraveling the Salvinia Paradox: Design Principles for Submerged Superhydrophobicity (Adv. Mater. Interfaces 14/2015)

Molecular simulations and continuum models illustrate the general principles behind the air-retaining properties of the water fern Salvinia molesta. In article number 1500248, A. Giacomello and co-workers show that the main characteristic is the combination of a hydrophobic textured surface, preventing its wetting, and a hydrophilic top layer, stabilizing the water/leaf interface, thus preventing the cavitation of gas bubbles. This natural paradigm might inspire novel artificial surfaces, with robust submerged superhydrophobic properties.