Fluid-permeable body having a superhydrophobic surface

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a rigid fluid-permeable body, having a first non-planar exterior surface, and having a second exterior surface facing away from the first non-planar exterior surface;

a plurality of fluid-permeable cells in the fluid-permeable body, each of the fluid-permeable cells having an opening in the first non-planar exterior surface and another opening in the second exterior surface, and each of the fluid-permeable cells having a cell wall defining a fluid pathway communicating with the openings in both the first and the second exterior surfaces; and

a plurality of raised micro-scale features on the first non-planar exterior, surface of the fluid-permeable body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of a plurality of the raised micro-scale features includes an end, the ends being spaced apart at a distance from the first non-planar exterior surface of the fluid-permeable body, the ends collectively forming a superhydrophobic surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-permeable body is monolithic, and wherein a plurality of the raised micro-scale features are monolithic with the fluid-permeable body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , including another plurality of raised micro-scale features on the second exterior surface of the fluid-permeable body.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first non-planar exterior surface of the fluid-permeable body forms a fluid containment structure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the fluid containment structure is a fluid-permeable conduit.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the fluid-permeable conduit is a fluid-permeable cavity.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 , being configured for applying a given pressure to a fluid within the fluid containment structure.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the cell walls has a first ridge defining one of the openings in and forming a portion of the first non-planar exterior surface, and a second ridge defining one of the openings in and forming a portion of the second exterior surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first ridges are arranged in a first array and the second ridges are arranged in a second array.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of raised micro-scale features are arranged in a third array on the first ridges.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the first ridges has a shape that is triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, trapezoidal, heptagonal, polygonal, circular, or elliptical.

13. An apparatus, comprising:

a rigid fluid-permeable body having a first exterior surface, and having a second exterior surface facing away from the first exterior surface;

a plurality of fluid-permeable cells in the fluid-permeable body, each of the fluid-permeable cells having an opening in the first exterior surface and another opening in, the second exterior surface, and each of the fluid-permeable cells having a cell wall defining a fluid pathway communicating with the openings in both the first and the second exterior surfaces;

a plurality of raised micro-scale features on the first exterior surface of the fluid-permeable body; and

a fluid containment body forming, together with the second exterior surface of the fluid-permeable body, a fluid containment structure.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the fluid-permeable body is monolithic, and wherein a plurality of the raised micro-scale features are monolithic with the fluid-permeable body.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , including another plurality of raised micro-scale features on the second exterior surface or the fluid permeable body.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the fluid containment structure is a fluid pressure containment chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first exterior surface of the fluid-permeable body forms another fluid containment structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the another fluid containment structure is a fluid-permeable conduit.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the fluid-permeable conduit is a fluid-permeable cavity.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each of a plurality of the raised micro-scale features includes an end, the ends being spaced apart at a distance from the first exterior surface of the fluid-permeable body, the ends collectively forming a superhydrophobic surface.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each of the cell walls has a first ridge defining one of the openings in and forming a portion of the first non-planar exterior surface, and a second ridge defining one of the openings in and forming a portion of the second exterior surface.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first ridges are arranged in a first array and the second ridges are arranged in a second array.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of raised micro-scale features are arranged in a third array on the first ridges.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein each of the first ridges has a shape that is triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, trapezoidal, heptagonal, polygonal, circular, or elliptical.

25. The apparatus of claim 13 , being configured for applying a given pressure to a fluid within the fluid containment structure.