The Fabrication and Switchable Superhydrophobicity of TiO2 Nanorod Films

Wet and dry: Titanium dioxide nanorod films with micro- and nanoscale hierarchical surface structures have been successfully prepared (left). The nanorod films, which show superhydrophobicity (middle), reversibly become superhydrophilic (right) when exposed to UV light. The mechanism involves the cooperation of the special surface structures, the orientation of crystal planes, and the surface photosensitivity.