Hydrophobicity of rare-earth oxide ceramics

Metallic and ceramic surfaces can be rendered hydrophobic through a combination of multiscale surface structures and polymeric modifiers, but the imparted hydrophobicity is not robust to harsh environments. It is now shown that the lanthanide oxide series—a class of ceramics—is intrinsically hydrophobic as a result of their unique electronic structure, even after exposure to high temperatures and abrasive wear.