Professor Heo Ki-joon's research team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at CNU has developed highly hydrophobic surface technology that is resistant to contamination.

Superhydrophobicity refers to the property of repelling water. Superhydrophobic surfaces are widely used in various fields since they have self-cleaning, anti-biofouling, anti-corrosion and anti-icing/fogging properties.

So far, there have been limitations in hydrophobic surfaces since nano/microstructures on surfaces are typically fragile and these surfaces easily contaminated which cause them to lose their superhydrophobic function.
 
In this regard, Professor Heo of CNU, in collaboration with Dr. Hwang Gi-byoung of University College London and LAB. M. 0 Corporation, has attracted attention for revealing a manufacturing method for highly hydrophobic surfaces with excellent mechanical durability and pollution recovery capabilities.

The developed superhydrophobic surface showed better robustness than high-strength cement even in mechanical compression, impact, and bending tests. It can withstand 80 to 100 drops of sand, the abrasion of sandpaper, the peeling off adhesive tape, scratching with a scalpel up to 2000 times, and can even be sanded with sandpaper even when the surface is damaged and contaminated by gas flames, aqua regia, paint, oil, blood, etc. It was confirmed that superhydrophobicity can be easily restored through a simple rubbing process.
 
This research was conducted as part of the National Research Foundation of Korea's Excellent New Research Project and the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Innovation Platform Project, and was published on February 21 as a cover paper in Journal of Materials Chemistry A,' the top international academic journal in the materials and chemistry field.