Design of Robust Lubricant-Infused Surfaces for Anti-Corrosion

A lubricant-infused surface such as an oil-impregnated porous surface has great potentials for various applications due to its omniphobicity. However, the drainage and depletion of the lubricant liquid oil remain practical concerns for real applications. Here, we investigate the effect of a specially designed bottle-shaped nanopore of anodic aluminum oxide, which has a smaller pore diameter in the upper region than the lower one, on the oil retentivity and anti-corrosion efficacy. The effects of the viscosity and volatility of the lubricant oil were further investigated for synergy. Results show that the bottle-shaped pore helps to stably immobilize the lubricant oil in the nanostructure and significantly enhances the robustness and anti-corrosion efficacy, compared to the conventional cylindrical pores with straight walls as well as the hybrid one featured with additional pillar structures. Moreover, the enlarged oil capacity in the bottle-shaped pore allows the oil to cover the underlying metallic surface effectively at cracks, enhancing the damage tolerance with a unique self-healing capability. The oil with a higher viscosity further enhances the benefits so that the bottle-shaped pore impregnated with a higher-viscosity oil shows greater anti-corrosion efficacy. It suggests that the combination of the geometric features of nanopores and the fluid properties of lubricant liquid can lead to a maximized longevity and anti-corrosion efficacy of the liquid-infused surfaces for real applications.