Waveguides are disclosed (and other devices and materials including but not limited to hydrophobic coatings, passivation materials, glob top materials, underfill materials, dielectric materials for IC and other applications, microlenses and any of a wide variety of optical devices) that benefit by a high hydrophobicity and high stability and, among other things. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for making a waveguide comprises: forming a lower cladding layer on a substrate; forming a core layer after the lower cladding layer; and forming an upper cladding layer after the core layer; wherein the lower cladding layer, core layer and/or upper cladding layer is hydrophobic and results, if exposed to water, in a water contact angle of 90 degrees or more.