Calenderable supramolecular perfluorogels for facile fabrication of slippery coatings

It is challenging to prepare perfluorogels because of the poor solubility and reactivity of perfluorinated polymers. Herein, inspired by the similarity of the fibrous networks of porous polytetrafluoroethylene (pPTFE) to that formed in supramolecular gels, we develop a facile method to prepare supramolecular perfluorogels from pPTFE. The method is based on the soaking of pPTFE in perfluorinated solvents which can swell the amorphous domains of PTFE matrices to ease the sliding of the crystalline domains. The obtained perfluorogels show not only controllable swelling ratio but also extraordinary mechanical properties, including high strength (>4.2 MPa) and modulus (>9.5 MPa), extremely good stretchability (6240%) and malleability (>2300%). Taking advantage of their malleability, the perfluorogel can be easily freehand calendered on objects with various shapes at room temperature to generate slippery coatings with good anti-fouling and antibacterial properties. Moreover, the coatings show interesting compression-induced recovery in surface slipperiness after overlayer liquid is consumed. Because of the daily available starting materials, facile preparation method, and the excellent properties, these perfluorogels might provide immediate application opportunities in various conditions including the current state of COVID-19.

Automated summary

A simple method has been developed to prepare supramolecular perfluorogels from porous polytetrafluoroethylene, which exhibit excellent mechanical properties and stretchability and can be easily transformed into anti-fouling and antibacterial coatings on various shaped objects.