Low energy surfaces based on nanostructured films exhibit advancing and receding contact angles for liquids such that (1) the difference between the advancing and receding contact angles approaches zero and (2) the advancing and receding contact angles approach 180 DEG . The low energy surface of the present invention comprises a nanostructured film coated with an organized molecular assembly (OMA). Advantageously, the chemical and wetting characteristics of the surface can be altered by changing the functionality of the OMA end groups exposed to the environment in contact with the surface of the nanostructured film.
