Metal oxides (MOs) as a class of indispensable materials in many industrial products have been extensively investigated for a wide range of applications, including energy and environment-related fields. In the applications of MOs, the surface wettability exhibits significant influences on their properties. Hence, the regulation of wettability on MO surfaces with desired surfaces is essential to realize the target properties in various practical applications. In this review, we first present some principal theories of surface wettability and then give a detailed introduction on the synthesis of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic MO surfaces. Particularly, two primary strategies, including micro-/nano-structures construction and surface modification, for building superhydrophobic MO surfaces are summarized. Next, the smart stimuli-response MO surfaces, which deliver switchable wettability under some external stimulus, and the strategies for achieving reversible wettability transition are highlighted. Subsequently, a comprehensive review is given on the wettability-related application fields of MO surfaces. Finally, the current challenges for surface construction and reversible transitions are critically analyzed, and four future research directions are pointed out in order to offer some constructive clues for the future manipulation and applications of MO surfaces.

中文翻译：

---

可调节金属氧化物表面的润湿性以适应未来的应用

金属氧化物（MO）作为许多工业产品中不可或缺的材料，已被广泛研究其广泛的应用，包括能源和环境相关领域。在MOs的应用中，表面润湿性对其性能有显着影响。因此，调节具有所需表面的MO表面的润湿性对于在各种实际应用中实现目标性能至关重要。在这篇综述中，我们首先介绍了表面润湿性的一些基本理论，然后详细介绍了超疏水和超亲水MO表面的合成。特别是，总结了构建超疏水MO表面的两种主要策略，包括微/纳米结构构建和表面改性。接下来，重点介绍了智能刺激响应 MO 表面，它在某些外部刺激下提供可切换的润湿性，以及实现可逆润湿性转变的策略。随后对MO表面润湿性相关的应用领域进行了全面综述。最后，批判性分析了当前表面构建和可逆转变面临的挑战，并指出了四个未来的研究方向，以期为MO表面的未来操控和应用提供一些建设性线索。