Engineering frog-skin-inspired wrinkled self-lubricative liquid-like interfaces on biodegradable plastics

Area of Science:

• Colloid and interface science
• Materials science
• Biomimetics

Background:

• Controlling liquid-solid interactions is crucial in engineering.
• Biomimetic surfaces offer ultra-low adhesion to fluids.
• Fluorine-free slippery coatings with oil-storing capabilities are challenging to fabricate without complex micro-texturing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a multifunctional, self-lubricative interface inspired by frog skin.
• To develop a fluorine-free slippery coating with robust oil-storing capability.
• To achieve super-lubricity through synergistic effects of surface engineering and lubricant confinement.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneous physical and chemical conjugation of vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with silicone oil on starch-based bioplastics.
• Fabrication of random micro-sized structured wrinkles and nanochannels.
• Utilizing a facile, cost-effective, and scalable process.

Main Results:

• The oil-bearing coating demonstrated super-lubricity, readily sliding water and other low-surface-tension liquids.
• The surface resisted adhesion of viscous fluids like honey and ketchup.
• Ice formation was delayed by up to 240 seconds, and optical transparency exceeded 80%.

Conclusions:

• A simple, low-cost, universal, and non-fluorinated strategy was developed for robust, patterned slippery coatings.
• The engineered surface exhibits liquid-like characteristics suitable for food-contact applications.
• Synergistic lubrication effects from PDMS and silicone oil ensure strong integration and super-lubricity.