Bioinspired Nanostructures for Combined Hydrophobicity and Light Propagation: From Natural Prototypes to Applications

Bioinspired nanostructures that integrate hydrophobicity with light propagation have attracted growing interest for creating multifunctional and environmentally adaptive interfaces. While both functionalities have been extensively studied independently, the integration of optical and hydrophobic properties into a single surface remains a developing area. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental mechanisms, synergistic effects, and potential applications arising from the coupling between light propagation and hydrophobicity. We first introduce representative biological prototypes, structure classification, and basic theories. Building on this foundation, we analyze the synergistic effect and inherent trade-offs between optical performance and wetting properties. Fabrication strategies are reviewed with attention to performance, structural robustness, and cost. Particular attention is given to applications, including solar energy utilization, sensors, information security, dynamic wettability control, and medical technologies. We also discuss the potential of combining slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs) with light-propagating structures, as well as AI-assisted inverse design for optimizing multifunctional interfaces. This review provides an integrated framework linking bioinspired wetting and optical phenomena, offering guidance for the design of next-generation multifunctional and adaptive optical materials.