"HOUSTON – (Dec. 9, 2015) – A new class of superhydrophobic nanomaterials might simplify the process of protecting surfaces from water. A material made by scientists at Rice University, the University of Swansea, the University of Bristol and the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis is inexpensive, nontoxic and can be applied to a variety of surfaces via spray- or spin-coating. The researchers led by Rice chemist Andrew Barron reported their find in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces. The hydrocarbon-based material may be a 'green' replacement for costly, hazardous fluorocarbons commonly used for superhydrophobic applications, Barron said..." - Rice University News Release