Synergistic Integration of Superhydrophobic and Lubricant-Infused Surface for Enhanced Liquid Repellency Selected as Supplementary Cover of Langmuir.

This study presents a novel dual-functional surface design that strategically integrates superhydrophobic (SH) and lubricant-infused surface (LIS) technologies to achieve enhanced liquid repellency with superior durability and self-healing capabilities.

The key innovation involves precisely controlling silicone oil loading into laser-induced graphene (LIG) structures, enabling controlled transitions between superhydrophobic and lubricant-infused states. This hybrid approach effectively addresses critical limitations of both technologies: mechanical vulnerability of superhydrophobic surfaces and lubricant depletion in LIS.When physical damage occurs, strategically stored silicone oil automatically migrates to compromised areas, creating localized LIS states for "self-healing" functionality. The surface maintains excellent water repellency across damaged regions up to 2 mm wide, preserving high contact angles and low sliding angles.

The self-healing mechanism prevents the irreversible transition to high-adhesion Wenzel states typical in conventional superhydrophobic surfaces, ensuring sustained droplet mobility after damage. This research provides valuable insights for liquid-repellent surface engineering with applications in self-cleaning coatings, anti-icing surfaces, oil-water separation, and microfluidic devices requiring reliable performance

Langmuir
Synergistic Integration of Superhydrophobic and Lubricant-Infused Surface for Enhanced Liquid Repellency
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c02261