What is "lotus effect"

n. The superhydrophobicity associated with the leaf of the lotus plant

The lotus effect refers to self-cleaning properties that are a result of very high water repellence ( superhydrophobicity), as exhibited by the leaves of the lotus flower ( Nelumbo). Dirt particles are picked up by water droplets due to the micro- and nanoscopic architecture on the surface, which minimizes the droplet's adhesion to that surface. Superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties are also found in other plants, such as Tropaeolum (nasturtium), Opuntia (prickly pear), Alchemilla, cane, and also on the wings of certain insects.{http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702115000024}

The phenomenon of superhydrophobicity was first studied by Dettre and Johnson in 1964 using rough hydrophobic surfaces. Their work developed a theoretical model based on experiments with glass beads coated with paraffin or PTFE telomer. The self-cleaning property of superhydrophobic micro- nanostructured surfaces was studied by Barthlott and Ehler in 1977, who described such self-cleaning and superhydrophobic properties for the first time as the "lotus effect"; perfluoroalkyl and perfluoropolyether superhydrophobic materials were developed by Brown in 1986 for handling chemical and biological fluids. Other biotechnical applications have emerged since the 1990s.