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All-perfluoropolymer, nonlinear stability-assisted monolithic surface combines topology-specific superwettability with ultradurability

The Innovation 2023 20 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Siyu Chen, Wanbo Li, Chiu-Wing Chan, Zeyu Li, Siyu Chen, Sin-Yung Siu, Chong Hu, Chong Hu, Siyu Chen, Han Sun, Zeyu Liu, Kangning Ren Yisu Wang, Nicola M. Pugno, Chong Hu, Nicola M. Pugno, Nicola M. Pugno, Richard N. Zare, Hongkai Wu, Kangning Ren

Summary

Researchers engineered a durable, all-Teflon surface with precisely controlled wettability that can repel water, trap air underwater, and self-clean at the nanoscale, demonstrating a scalable manufacturing approach that outperforms conventional superhydrophobic coatings in both function and long-term durability.

Developing versatile and robust surfaces that mimic the skins of living beings to regulate air/liquid/solid matter is critical for many bioinspired applications. Despite notable achievements, such as in the case of developing robust superhydrophobic surfaces, it remains elusive to realize simultaneously topology-specific superwettability and multipronged durability owing to their inherent tradeoff and the lack of a scalable fabrication method. Here, we present a largely unexplored strategy of preparing an all-perfluoropolymer (Teflon), nonlinear stability-assisted monolithic surface for efficient regulating matters. The key to achieving topology-specific superwettability and multilevel durability is the geometric-material mechanics design coupling superwettability stability and mechanical strength. The versatility of the surface is evidenced by its manufacturing feasibility, multiple-use modes (coating, membrane, and adhesive tape), long-term air trapping in 9-m-deep water, low-fouling droplet transportation, and self-cleaning of nanodirt. We also demonstrate its multilevel durability, including strong substrate adhesion, mechanical robustness, and chemical stability, all of which are needed for real-world applications.

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