Hierarchical nanostructured CuO surface was embellished to amplify the wettability. The pristine superhydrophilic CuO surface spontaneously transited to be superhydrophobic after exposed in air at room temperature for about 3 weeks. The wettability change is attributed to the adsorption of oxygen molecules on the topmost layer according to the surface chemical analysis. The adsorbed oxygen molecules could be removed by dipping the sample into.-Ascorbic acid solution for 10 s, leading to the recovery of the pristine superhydrophilicity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.