Patterned Slippery Surface through Dynamically Controlling Surface Structures for Droplet Microarray

Abstract

Patterned slippery surfaces based on the technique of slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) have broad technological applications in biofouling, liquid handling, biomolecule collection, and droplet microarrays. However, methods to generate patterned SLIPS with flexibility and practical potential remain a technical roadblock. Here, we report an approach for generating patterned SLIPS, and by utilizing which, as a proof-of-technique application, the droplet microarrays have been presented. Our approach is based on a photocross-linkable polyelectrolyte poly­(ethyleneimine)/azide-poly­(acrylic acid) (PEI/PAA-N3) film, whose surface structures can be dynamically controlled. We have prepared the surface-patterned PEI/PAA-N3 film containing microstructured and flat regions. We then demonstrate that, because of much higher lubricant retaining capability of the microstructured regions, a patterned SLIPS can be simply generated through infusing the lubricant onto the surface and applying a shear spinning process. This work highlights the importance of the dynamics of surface structures to functional materials, showing broad potential applications.

Droplet Control Based on Pinning and Substrate Wettability

“… 24 In any of the above systems, pinning of the contact line can be advantageous or impede the droplet motion or its manipulation, leading to greater or lower efficiency of relevant processes. 4 , 5 , 26 − 31 There are still outstanding issues that remain regarding the possibility of exploiting the effects of droplet pinning and substrate wettability in controlling droplet motion. This is especially true regarding microlevel origins of pinning and its mechanism, which can be advantageous for various nanotechnology applications.…”

Laser‐Directed Foaming of Hydroplastic Polyelectrolyte Films toward Tunable Structures and Programmable Routes

“…The highly reactive nitrene can react with a surrounding group to form an intra‐ or intermolecular covalent bond, which has been utilized previously to covalently crosslink dehydrated PEM films. [ 30 ] In this study, however, the PEI/PAA‐N 3 films were plasticized in water and exposed to laser irradiation afterward. Therefore, instead of inserting into a neighboring CH bond to form interchain junctions, the newly formed nitrene was surrounded by water and would undergo hydrolysis to produce a hydroxylamine derivative, [ 31 ] as illustrated in Figure 2A.…”

Mini‐pillar Based Multi‐channel Electrochemical Platform for Studying the Multifactor Silver Electrodeposition

“…Recently, the mini‐pillar based microdroplet platform provide the possibility for multiple parameters regulation [17, 18]. Some reports have described fabrication of fabricated multiple nanomaterials by regulating multiple parameters to regulate the nanocrystal growth (e. g. PbS, polymer film), however, there is still unpredictability between parameters and experimental results [19, 20].…”