Hydrophobicity and superhydrophobicity in fouling prevention in sea environment

Today protective techniques for seawater applications, merging economic and ecological features, represent an important field of research where coatings based on different degrees of hydrophobicity represent an attracting growing interest. In general, when a superhydrophobic surface (SHS) is immersed in water, a plastron of air is trapped, thereby preventing water penetration and, hence, wetting. Both hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces can be imagined as a protecting defence against water environment in different applications such as antifouling coatings including membranes for oil separation, wastewater treatments, optical windows, and drag reduction for ship hull.