A durable biomimetic nest-shaped superhydrophobic/ anti-icing material derived from wood fibers

Background Durable superhydrophobic coatings offer a pleasing visual experience and robust self-cleaning capabilities, providing reliable support for enhancing living quality and industrial safety. In the manufacturing of modern superhydrophobic coatings, especially those derived from natural and renewable biomass materials, abrasion resistance, practicality, and the application performance of various colors have become key considerations. Wood fiber, a natural, abundant and sustainable material, has great potentials in hydrophobic material application due to its low-cost, biodegradation, UV resistance properties. Methods In this study, a biomimetic bird's nest-shaped material with multicolored durable superhydrophobic functions achieved by modifying wood fiber with ZnO nanoparticles and fluorination was developed, which takes the form of powder, flexible film, and solid powder paint. Significant Findings Compared to traditional hydrophobic paints, it can be easily applied to various substrate surfaces with desired colors, including flexible tapes and paper, rigid glass and steel plates, providing a feasible solution for the low-cost, excellent durability, multi-functional, and high-value utilization of superhydrophobic materials.