Bioinspired Scalable Lubricated Bicontinuous Porous Composites with Self-Recoverability and Exceptional Outdoor
Sirshendu Misra1, Mizuki Tenjimbayashi2, Wei Weng3
1Micro & Nano-Scale Transport Laboratory, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 23, 2023
Summary
New Lubricated Bicontinuous porous Composites (LuBiCs) offer durable liquid repellency. These surfaces self-heal lubricant loss, enabling long-term outdoor applications like the demonstrated LuBiC roof.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Lubricant-impregnated surfaces (LIS) provide liquid repellency but suffer from lubricant depletion, limiting their practical use, especially outdoors.
- Developing stable, scalable LIS for long-term applications is a significant challenge due to lubricant loss from environmental factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and fabricate a novel class of lubricant-impregnated surfaces with enhanced durability and self-healing capabilities.
- To overcome the limitations of conventional LIS by developing a material resistant to lubricant depletion and degradation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of Lubricated Bicontinuous porous Composites (LuBiCs) using zinc oxide microfillers and poly(dimethylsiloxane) with infused silicone oil lubricant.
- Utilizing a scalable, drop-casting inspired wet process for meter-scale production of LuBiCs.
- Demonstrating self-replenishment of lubricant via capillary action within the bicontinuous porous structure.
Main Results:
- LuBiCs exhibit spontaneous lubricant transport, enabling capillary replenishment to restore liquid-repellent function after depletion.
- The material demonstrates tolerance to lubricant-degrading stimuli including rain, wiping, and shearing.
- A meter-scale "LuBiC roof" maintained its slippery behavior after over 9 months of outdoor exposure, showcasing long-term stability.
Conclusions:
- LuBiCs offer a scalable and robust solution for durable liquid-repellent surfaces.
- The self-healing mechanism via capillary replenishment significantly extends the functional lifetime of lubricant-impregnated surfaces.
- This technology holds promise for practical outdoor applications requiring long-lasting liquid repellency.
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