Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
Supramolecular polymers as surface coatings: rapid fabrication of healable superhydrophobic and slippery surfaces
Qiang Wei1, Christoph Schlaich, Sylvain Prévost
1Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany; Helmholtz Virtual Institute Multifunctional Biomaterials for Medicine, Kantstraβe 55, 14513, Teltow-Seehof, Germany.
Abstract:
Supramolecular polymerization for non-wetting surface coatings is described. The self-assembly of low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) with perfluorinated side chains can be utilized to rapidly construct superhydrophobic, as well as liquid-infused slippery surfaces within minutes. The lubricated slippery surface exhibits impressive repellency to biological li-quids, such as human serum and blood, and very fast self-healing.
