Superhydrophobic Plant Leaves: The Variation in Surface Morphologies and Wettability during the Vegetation Period

In this paper, for the first time, the surface wettability of cloverleaves and lotus leaves with specific surface structures at different growth stages is investigated. It is found that the clover exhibits water-repellent property similar to lotus leaves. Furthermore, the alternation in wettability of cloverleaves and lotus leaves during the whole vegetation period is investigated. The water contact angles and surface morphology of the leaves are measured by means of contact angle measurements and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The chemical composition of plant leaves is analyzed utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is found that the wettability heavily depends on the surface structures during their growth and aging procedure, which enlightens us to design and fabricate biomimetic multifunctional superhydrophobic surfaces inspired by nature.