One-Step Fabrication of Universal Slippery Lubricated Surfaces

Among the various liquid-repellent surfaces studied in recent times, lubricant-impregnated surfaces (LISs) with a mobile lubricant top surface exhibit distinctive liquid repellency. For the fabrication of LISs with stable lubricant impregnation, there are two surface requirements: i) a porous/textured structure and ii) a hydrophobic surface. These limitations require complex processes to be overcome and impede the fabrication of a variety of potential substrates. Herein, a stable and homogeneous lubricant thin layer fabricated by a simple one-step heating process is introduced on a nonhydrophobic surface with no porous/textured structures. Since the reaction minimizes the interfacial energy, a surface with a stable mobile lubricant thin layer, named “lubricated surface” (LuS), is fabricated. The LuS exhibits outstanding liquid repellency, anti-biofouling properties against bacteria, and anticorrosivity for metals, along with excellent self-healing characteristics. Additionally, the LuS can be applied on various materials and structures, including completely flat, nonporous surfaces. These superior virtues of the LuS can open new pathways for the production of universal slippery lubricant thin films for various potential applications.