We fabricated the first superhydrophobic (SH) surface with microcavities, using a simple process. The process included an improved template method (ITM) for constructing the SH surface with cavities, using taro leaves as a pattern mask, and a dip-coating method for modifying the SH surface. The results obtained using the ITM are significantly better than those achieved using traditional template methods. In addition, the water-repellence of the microcavities surface was significantly enhanced by decorating with a layer of polymerized n-octadecylsiloxane nanosheets. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.