Infusing Lubricant onto Erasable Microstructured Surfaces toward Guided Sliding of Liquid Droplets

Introducing a lubricant layer onto surfaces has emerged as a novel strategy to address a wide range of interface-related challenges. Recent studies of lubricant-infused surfaces have extended beyond repelling liquids to manipulating the mobility of fluids. In this study) we report a design of slippery surfaces based on infusing lubricant, onto a polyelectrolyte multilayer film whose surface microstructures can be erased rapidly tinder mild condition. Unlike other lubricant-infused surfaces, the liquid movements (e.g., moving resistance and direction) on such Surfaces can be manipulated via programming the surface microstructures beforehand. The work reported here offers a versatile design concept of lubricant-infused surfaces and may turn on new applications of this emerging class of bioinspired materials.