Hydrophobic/hydrophilic switching on zinc oxide micro-textured surface

[Display omitted] ► Surface coverage less than 40% leads to hydrophobicity: theoretical and experimental approaches. ► Reversible wettability of zinc oxide microrods coated surface with ultraviolet and infrared irradiation. ► Potential application in designing surfaces with controlled wettability. Switchable wettability of zinc oxide (ZnO) microrod coated surfaces was controlled in two different ways: (1) by physical geometry (surface coverage area SA: the area covered by solid) and (2) by irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light followed by infrared (IR) or furnace heating. In the first approach, the threshold coverage area for achieving hydrophobic surfaces was found to be