Multiscale lubricant-infused surfaces with enhanced wetting stability under Multiphysical environmental stresses

Abstract

This study systematically compares the transition from superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) to slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) and evaluates their dynamic resilience under severe multiphysical environmental stressors. Hierarchical silica-based coatings were fabricated and subsequently infused with PFPE lubricant. While SHS exhibited high initial water repellency, they rapidly deteriorated under pressure, shear, and prolonged exposure due to the instability of trapped air. In contrast, SLIPS maintained exceptional wetting stability across all extreme conditions, including sustained hydrostatic pressure, long-term thermal aging (155 days at 65 °C), and continuous high-speed water-jet impacts corresponding to a cumulative impact energy estimated to be equivalent to approximately three years of rainfall exposure, representing a conservative hydrodynamic fatigue scenario. Mechanistic analysis reveals that the multiscale architecture functions as a robust capillary reservoir, enabling continuous lubricant confinement that suppresses contact line pinning and resists shear-induced partial failure. Finally, while demonstrating the functional superiority of capillary-confined liquid interfaces for durable coatings, this study also acknowledges the environmental challenges associated with persistent fluorinated chemicals (PFAS), thereby highlighting the necessity of transitioning toward sustainable, fluorine-free SLIPS for future real-world applications.