Bioinspired Self-Repairing Slippery Surfaces with Pressure-Stable Omniphobicity

Entry by Emily Redston, AP 226, Spring 2012

• Work in progress*

Reference

Bioinspired self-repairing slippery surfaces with pressure-stable omniphobicity by T.S. Wong, S.H. Kang, S.K.Y. Tang, E.J. Smythe, B.D. Hatton, A. Grinthal, and J. Aizenberg. Nature 477, 443-447 (2011)

Keywords

omniphobicity, biomimetics, self-repair, surface texture,

Results

Figure 1. Omniphobicity and high-pressure stability of SLIPS. a, Time-sequence images comparing mobility of pentane droplets ((γ_A= 517.260.5mN m^-1, volume ~ 30 μl) on a SLIPS and a superhydrophobic, air-containing Teflon porous surface. Pentane is repelled on the SLIPS, but it wets and stains the traditional superhydrophobic surface. b, Comparison of contact angle hysteresis as a function of surface tension of test liquids (indicated) on SLIPS and on an omniphobic surface reported in ref. 9. In the inset, the advancing and receding contact angles of a liquid droplet are denoted as θ_adv, and θ_rec, respectively. SLIPS 1, 2 and 3 refer to the surfaces made of Teflon porous membrane (SLIPS 1), an array of epoxy posts of Pressure (atm) geometry 1 (pitch ~ 2 μm, height ~ 5 μm, post diameter ~ 300 nm) (SLIPS 2) and an array of epoxy posts of geometry 2 (pitch~900 nm, height~500 nm–2 μm, post diameter ~300 nm) (SLIPS 3). Error bars indicate standard deviations from three independent measurements. c, A plot showing the high pressure stability of SLIPS, as evident from the low sliding angle of a decane droplet (γ_A = 23.6 ± 0.1 mN m^-1, volume ~ 3 μl) subjected to pressurized nitrogen gas in a pressure chamber. Error bars indicate standard deviations from at least seven independent measurements.

Some Neat Videos

Movie 1 -- This movie demonstrates the fast recovery of the liquid-repellent function of a SLIPS after critical physical damage. As seen from the movie, the crude oil droplet is pinned on a nanostructured superhydrophobic surface (without lubricating fluid), while the droplet maintains its mobility on the SLIPS. Extra-light crude oil (from Appalachian Basin, USA) was used as the test liquid for demonstration.

Movie 2 -- This movie demonstrates the excellent ice-repellency of a SLIPS, as compared to a nanostructured surface. As seen from the movie, an ice block (formed from a frozen water droplet of ˜100 µL at –4 °C and ˜45% relative humidity) slides on the SLIPS under the influence of gravity. In comparison, an ice block of the same volume remains strongly pinned on a superhydrophobic nanostructured surface without a lubricating layer. This movie corresponds to Fig. 4c in the main text.

Movie 3 -- This movie demonstrates the self-cleaning ability of a SLIPS. As seen from the movie, carbon dust is seeded onto the SLIPS and can be easily removed by sliding an ethanol droplet across the surface. This movie corresponds to Fig. S7a in the Supplementary Information.