WO₃-Based Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces with Long-Term Stability

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) mimic natural structures like Nepenthes pitcher plants.
• SLIPS offer hydrophobicity, antifouling, anti-icing, and durability for various applications.
• A key challenge for SLIPS is maintaining lubricant integrity within the porous structure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop durable tungsten oxide (WO3) nanofiber-based SLIPS.
• To investigate the relationship between WO3 nanostructure properties and SLIPS performance.
• To assess the stability of WO3-based SLIPS under challenging conditions.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized uniform WO3 nanofiber networks on stainless steel via a one-step hydrothermal method.
• Chemically modified and lubricant-infused WO3 nanofiber surfaces to create SLIPS.
• Evaluated liquid repellency, anti-biofouling, and long-term stability under high shear force and water flow.

Main Results:

• WO3-based SLIPS exhibited excellent liquid repellency and anti-biofouling properties.
• Long-term SLIPS durability correlated with smaller WO3 nanostructure diameters and surface area.
• The developed SLIPS demonstrated outstanding stability under high shear rates and water washing.

Conclusions:

• WO3 nanostructure characteristics significantly influence SLIPS durability.
• Optimized WO3-based SLIPS show promise for robust surface modification.
• These SLIPS hold potential for future applications in medical devices requiring stable, repellent surfaces.