Universal and Stable Slippery Coatings: Chemical Combination Induced Adhesive-Lubricant Cooperation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Tribology

Background:

• Slippery coatings with low-affinity liquid lubricants are vital for applications like lubrication, anti-fouling, and drag reduction.
• Key challenges include achieving substrate universality and ensuring lubricant stability against evaporation.
• Existing methods often struggle with broad applicability and long-term performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a universal and stable slippery coating that overcomes limitations of current technologies.
• To create a coating with robust adhesion and lubricant properties for diverse applications.
• To investigate the performance of the novel coating under various environmental and mechanical stresses.

Main Methods:

• A chemical method involving an acid-catalyzed dehydration reaction between polydopamine (PDA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
• Creating a spatially graded interpenetration of PDA and PDMS, with PDMS forming the outermost lubricant layer.
• Utilizing PDA for universal adhesion and PDMS for its liquid-like lubricant properties.

Main Results:

• The developed slippery lubricant-adhesive cooperated coating (SLACC) demonstrated near-universal applicability on approximately 100 different substrates.
• SLACC exhibited remarkable stability, resisting degradation from UV radiation, refrigeration, drying methods, scratching, and abrasion.
• The coating showed potential for anti-fouling applications on various geometries and for drag reduction in confined spaces.

Conclusions:

• The SLACC strategy offers a viable solution for creating universal and stable slippery surfaces.
• The chemical bonding approach enhances coating durability and performance across challenging conditions.
• This technology holds promise for advancing anti-fouling and fluid dynamics applications.