Implementation of a Large-Area Slippery Surface Using a Transparent Organogel

A slippery interface, based on the synergistic relationship between structural topologies and functional liquids found in living organisms, exhibits controlled interactions with viscous fluids and solid materials owing to its low adhesion properties. However, creating a porous surface to be infilled with lubricants or using gelation methods typically requires long process times, and scaling up to large areas presents significant challenges. In this study, we developed a simple fabrication method, composed of two main steps, for creating a slippery interface. First, an organogel was fabricated by exposing a mixture of a photocurable polydimethylsiloxane resin and lubricant to ultraviolet (UV) light, following a roll-to-plate process. Subsequently, the organogel surface was coated with a lubricant and subjected to a UV-grafting process to enhance its slippery properties. The low sliding angles of the resulting slippery organogel for various viscous fluids and its performance in antifouling and anti-icing tests indicated its low adhesion to liquids, solids, and biological deposits. This approach is simpler than conventional methods and is suitable for scaling up of slippery organogels that can be used to develop large-area slippery surfaces using photo-induced processes.