Efficient Bubble Transport on Bioinspired Topological Ultraslippery Surfaces

Abstract

Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) with micro-/nanostructures inspired by the Nepenthes pitcher plant exhibit excellent characteristics in terms of liquid repellency, selfhealing, pressure tolerance, and so forth. In particular, stable bubble transport on SLIPS can be achieved when the surface is submerged in water. However, more precise and sophisticated bubble manipulations on SLIPS still remain challenging. In this research, a three-dimensional topological SLIPS combined with a submillimeter rice leaf-like groove array is fabricated to guide the underwater bubble motion precisely. The dynamic behavior and wetting state of bubbles on SLIPS were investigated experimentally. Furthermore, topological SLIPS with different geometric textures were designed and created for sophisticated bubble manipulations, such as fast bubble directional transport and collection. The results indicated that a lubricant with low surface tension and low viscosity could improve the adhesion force to bubbles and the transport velocity of bubbles, simultaneously. The current findings are helpful to deepen the cognition of interaction between bubbles and SLIPS and to promote their wide applications in the field of smart bubble manipulation and catalytic chemistry.

Fluid manipulationviamultifunctional lubricant infused slippery surfaces: principle, design and applications

“…94 In 2021, Kai Zhuang reported a three-dimensional topology of SLIPS, which realized the directional transport of underwater bubbles using curved arrays and wedge arrays in combination with SLIPSs. 47 Smart response of SLIPSs also enables intelligent control of underwater bubbles. In 2022, Adil Majeed Rather and co-workers reported a thermally responsive SLIPS that enables programmable manipulation of underwater bubbles (Fig.…”

“…From top to bottom, the fluid is controlled by using the Laplace pressure generated by geometrygradient structures; 45 By combining SLIPS with superhydrophilic surfaces or other surfaces with different wettability to build patterned surfaces to manipulate the fluid motion behavior; 46 By using SLIPSs with an asymmetric surface microstructures to control the fluid forward direction; 23 By combining the directional groove structure with the SLIPS to control the direction of the fluid motion. 47 ''pierce'' the liquid-air interface of a droplet when the droplet or bubble moves toward the tip of the microglia, forming a small circular gas-liquid-solid three-phase contact line. In the opposite direction, the droplet is ''held'' by the microglia, forming a linear-shaped gas-liquid-solid three-phase contact line.…”

Bio‐inspired spontaneous splitting of underwater bubbles along a superhydrophobic open pathway without perturbation

“…They are usually prepared with compact and dense micro/nanostructures with a high solid ratio, 16,17 which make it difficult to trap large volumes of gas, hindering the application of the gas transport strategy using air plastron. Most recently, bioinspired surfaces with superwettability show advantages in the manipulation and transportation of underwater bubbles, [18][19][20][21][22][23] but they cannot fully address the issues of high energy consumption.…”

Bioinspired Functional Structures for Lubricant Control at Surfaces and Interfaces: Wedged-Groove with Oriented Capillary Patterns

“…Liquid manipulation is a ubiquitous process in nature and modern industry where physics, chemistry, and engineering intersect. − It has drawn a lot of attention because of the great potential in microfluidic devices, water harvesting, chemical reactions, lubrication systems, condensation, heat transfer, and so forth. Mechanically, liquid manipulation on solid surfaces is induced by the interfacial energy gradient at the solid/liquid interface; based on this principle, various strategies have been developed to create this gradient and convert it into liquid motion, such as decorating surfaces with wettability or structure gradients, − applying external stimuli of thermal, light, electric, or magnetic, of which functional surface structures are a hot research topic with positive progress. Evolution by mutation and natural selection produces all sorts of perfect multifunctional surfaces with unification and coordination of structure and performance. − For example, sinusoidal grooves in rice leaves can guide liquid motion; conical structures of cactus can collect water from a humid atmosphere in the form of tiny droplets, similar behavior has also been observed in the case of Syntrichia caninervis plants .…”