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Updated: Mar 12, 2026

Light-induced Patterning and Grafting for Slippery Surfaces based on Silane-coated Nanoporous Structures
Published on: November 14, 2025
Cylindrical chains of water drops condensing on microstructured lubricant-infused surfaces
Tadashi Kajiya1, Sanghyuk Wooh1, Yunchan Lee2
1Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany. butt@mpip-mainz.mpg.de.
Abstract:
We studied the condensation of water drops on a micro-structured lubricant-infused surfaces. Hierarchical micro-prism surfaces were fabricated by soft imprinting with wet TiO2 nanoparticle paste. After hydrophobization, the patterned surfaces were infused with silicone oil as a lubricant. When cooling at high humidity (over 80%), water drops nucleate and start growing on the surface. Once they have reached a certain size, the drops at neighboring channels of the micro-prisms attract each other and spontaneously form cylindrical chains. These chains of drops align perpendicular to the prism array. The morphology and the length-to-width ratio of the chains of drops depend on the thickness of the lubricant layer. This new concept of water drop alignment on lubricant-infused surfaces offers a new route for pattern formation with condensed drops.
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