Liquid-like Surface Chemistry Meets Structured Textures: A Synergistic Approach to Advanced Repellent Materials

Abstract

Liquid-repellent surfaces have advanced significantly over two decades. While super-liquid-repellent surfaces with micro/nano-textures dominate the field, liquid-like smooth surfaces (LLSS) grafted with highly flexible molecule chains offer a compelling alternative, enabling near-ideal dynamic droplet repellency with ultralow contact angle hysteresis (CAH). Prior LLSS studies have focused on optimizing molecular structures, grafting densities, and mechanical stability, enabling applications in anti-fouling, liquid harvesting, and drag reduction. However, innovation challenges and performance bottlenecks hinder practical scalability. This review highlights a transformative approach developed in recent years: integrating liquid-like surface chemistry with structured surfaces to overcome existing limitations. We outline the key requirements for achieving liquid-like surfaces, their structure-related features and unique interface properties including low CAH, reduced adhesion, enhanced slippage, and nucleation inhibition. By synergizing liquid-like chemistry and surface textures, we categorize pioneering works into application-driven areas such as microscopic residue suppression, enhanced droplet mobility, optimized membrane separation, sustainable fabrics and condensation heat transfer. This composite strategy not only deepens fundamental understanding of liquid-like wetting mechanisms but also broadens real-world applicability. We conclude with perspectives on future challenges and opportunities, positioning this promising material system as a frontier in functional interfacial materials.

Topics & Concepts