International audienceThis review allows to give an overview of recent advances in the potential applications of superhydrophobic materials. Such properties are characterized by extremely high water contact angle and various adhesion properties. The conception of superhydrophobic materials has been possible by studying and mimicking natural surfaces. Now, extremely various applications have emerged such as anti-icing, anti-corrosion and anti-bacteria coatings, microfluidic devices, textiles, oil/water separation, water desalination/purification, optical devices, sensors, batteries and catalysts. At least two parameters were found to be essential for application: the presence of air on superhydrophobic materials with self-cleaning properties (Cassie-Baxter state) and the robustness of the superhydrophobic properties (stability of the Cassie-Baxter state). This review will allow to researchers to envisage new ideas and to industrialists to advance in the commercialization of these materials

This review is an exhaustive representation of the electrochemical processes reported in the literature to produce superhydrophobic surfaces. Due to the intensive demand in the elaboration of superhydrophobic materials using low-cost, reproducible and fast methods, the use of strategies based on electrochemical processes have exponentially grown these last five years. These strategies are separated in two parts: the oxidation processes, such as oxidation of metals in solution, the anodization of metals or the electrodeposition of conducting polymers, and the reduction processed such as the electrodeposition of metals or the galvanic deposition. One of the main advantages of the electrochemical processes is the relative easiness to produce various surface morphologies and a precise control of the structures at a micro- or a nanoscale.

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