Controllable Fabrication of Durable, Underliquid Superlyophobic Surfaces Based on the Lyophilic–Lyophobic Balance

Abstract

Surfaces possessing desirable underliquid special wettability, particularly underliquid dual superlyophobicity, have a high potential for extensive applications. However, there is still a lack of controllable preparation strategies to regulate the underliquid wettability via balancing the underliquid lyophilicity−lyophobicity. Herein, we develop a nanocomposite coating system comprising silica nanoparticles (NPs), glycerol propoxylate triglycidyl ether (GPTE), and fluorinated alkyl silane (FAS) to obtain controllable underliquid special wettability surfaces. FAS is the vital factor in guiding the preparation of the surface coating with expected underliquid superwettability. Increasing the FAS content results in a tendency toward underwater superoleophobicity/ underoil hydrophilicity to underwater oleophilicity/underoil superhydrophobicity. Significantly, the underliquid dual superlyophobic surface can be achieved when an appropriate FAS content is located. After the coating treatment, the fabric exhibits superamphiphilicity in air and superlyophobicity in liquid (i.e., exhibiting both underwater superoleophobicity and underoil superhydrophobicity). The coating also exhibits an adaptable antioil fouling ability and high durability against harsh environments. Furthermore, oil/water separation based on the underliquid dual superlyophobicity of coated fabrics is successfully demonstrated. Our work proposes a new fabrication principle for the design of underliquid special wettability surfaces and offers broad applications, such as switchable oil/water separation, antibiofouling, liquid manipulation, and smart textiles.