Fast removal of small water drops from surfaces is a challenging issue in heat transfer, collection, or anti-icing. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) brushes show good prospects to reach this goal because their low adhesion liquids. To further reduce drops, here, the surface vapor organic solvents such as toluene n-hexane exposed. In presence vapors, slide at lower tilt angle and move faster. This mainly caused by physisorption swelling PDMS brushes, which serves lubricating layer. Enhanced...

Artificial dry adhesives have exhibited great potential in the field of robotics. However, there is still a wide gap between bioinspired and living tissues, especially regarding surface adaptability switching ability attachment/detachment. Here, we propose sensing-triggered stiffness-tunable smart adhesive material, combining functions muscle tissues sensing nerves rather than traditional biomimetic strategy that only focuses on structural geometry. Authorized by real-time perception...

With the combination of passive adhesion generated by micro/nano-structures at their feet and active mechanical stimulus toe muscles, geckos can stably walk on vertical walls horizontal ceilings. Inspired such stimuli-responsive systems in nature, an adhesive soft gripper stimulated low voltage (usually ≤6 V), consisting a mushroom-like structure electrically liquid crystal elastomer working as is proposed this study. Through on/off switching, reversible deformation be for switchable...

Abstract Adhesives and water exhibit a conflicting correlation as indicated by the failure of most synthetic adhesives in submerged humid environments. Development instant, strong, reversible, long‐lasting that can adhere to wet surfaces function underwater environments presents formidable challenge, yet it is paramount importance biomedical engineering applications. Herein, viscoelastic moldable ionogels are developed based on synergistic aromatic substituents, fluorinated counterions,...

Heat exchangers are made of metals because their high heat conductivity and mechanical stability. Metal surfaces inherently hydrophilic, leading to inefficient filmwise condensation. It is still a challenge coat these metal with durable, robust, thin hydrophobic layer, which required for efficient dropwise Here, we report the nonstructured ultrathin (∼6 nm) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brushes on copper that sustain high-performing condensation in supersaturation. Due flexible siloxane...

Commercial hard carbon (HC) anode suffers from unexpected interphase chemistry rooted in the parasitic reactions between surface oxygen‐functional groups and ester‐based electrolytes. Herein, an innovative strategy is proposed to regulate by tailoring targeted functional on HC surface, where highly active undesirable are skillfully converted into a Si‐O‐Si molecular layer favorable for anchoring anions. Then, inorganic/organic hybrid solid electrolyte with low interfacial charge transfer...

The epidermal adhesive structure of many animals generates reliable adhesion on their engaged surfaces. However, current bio-inspired structures are difficult to function well in dry and underwater environments simultaneously. Interestingly, the male Dytiscus lapponicus attaches firmly rough shell female D. both conditions owing setae its forelegs, best our knowledge, designing multienvironments has never been reported. Here, a lapponicus-inspired (DIAS) is proposed fabricated using...

Surface tension is a physical property that central to our understanding of wetting phenomena. One could easily measure liquid surface using commercially available tensiometers (e.g., Wilhelmy plate method) or by optical imaging pendant drop method). However, such instruments are designed for bulk volumes on the order milliliters. In perform similar measurements extremely small sample in range femtoliters, atomic force microscope (AFM) considered as promising tool. It was previously reported...

Atmospheric water harvesting is considered a viable source of freshwater to alleviate scarcity in an arid climate. Water condensation tends be more efficient on superhydrophobic surfaces as the spontaneous coalescence-induced droplet jumping enables faster condensate removal. However, poor nucleation these leads meager harvest. A conventional approach problem fabricate micro- and nanoscale biphilic structures. Nonetheless, process complex, expensive, difficult scale. Here, authors present...

Abstract Enhancing heat transfer efficiency by liquid condensation plays a critical role in recovering and utilizing low‐grade heat. However, overall is commonly limited the inefficient vapor–liquid phase transition flux enthalpy during condensation. Here, we report that introducing small amount of water into phase‐change process ethanol on liquid‐like polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) brush surface, coefficient significantly enhanced, particular, more than one order magnitude compared to pure...

Abstract Due to its excellent durability and steady mechanical qualities, three‐dimensional porous polyurethane foam (PUF) presents a wide range of possibilities for flexible piezoresistive sensors. Its extreme flammability, poor electrical conductivity, susceptibility outside factors present serious difficulties, though. In this study, waterborne polyurethane‐coated PUF sensor that incorporates reduced graphene oxide (RGO) polyaniline (PANI) through methodical, step‐by‐step dip‐coating...

Biodegradable body temperature‐responsive shape memory polyurethanes, with self‐healing function, were synthesized here from PCDL, MDI and different chain extenders, in which the extenders are designed to adjust their transition temperatures properties. Once deformed at proper temperature, they show more than 96% fixation until heated near where recover original (100%) within 20 s. Moreover, these polyurethanes could be makes them available many medical fields. POLYM. ENG. SCI.,...

Abstract The implementation of complex, high‐precision optical devices or systems, which have vital applications in the aerospace, medical, and military fields, requires ability to reliably manipulate assemble elements. However, this is a challenging task as these elements require contamination‐free damage‐free manipulation come variety sizes shapes. Here, smart, contact‐adaptive adhesive based on magnetic actuation developed address challenge. Specifically, surface bio‐inspired adhesives...

Fast removal of water drops from solid surfaces is important in many applications such as on solar panels rain, heat transfer, and for collection. Recently, a reduction lateral adhesion poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) brush after exposure to various organic vapors was reported. It attributed the physisorption vapor swelling PDMS brushes. However, it later pointed out that change interfacial energies by adsorption could also have caused low drop adhesion. To find how strongly each effect...

Abstract Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) blends were prepared by dynamic vulcanization, with the TPVs being compatibilized chlorinated polyethylene (CPE). The effects of CPE compatibilizer mechanical and morphological properties investigated systematically. Experimental results showed that dynamically vulcanized NBR/EVA had obvious elastomeric behavior improved properties, indicating a good compatibilization...

The efficient and safe manipulation of precision materials (such as thin fragile wafers glass substrates for flat panel displays) under complicated operating conditions with vacuum, high temperature, low preload stress is an essential task pan-semiconductor production lines. However, current approaches such suction-based gripping (invalid vacuum conditions) mechanical clamping (stress concentration at the contact interfaces) are challenged to satisfy complex requirements. Herein,...

When a drop of polar liquid slides over hydrophobic surface, it acquires charge. As result, the surface charges oppositely. For applications such as generation electric energy, lubricant-infused surfaces (LIS) may be important because they show low friction for drops. However, slide electrification on LIS has not been studied yet. Here, was by measuring charge generated series water drops sliding down inclined surfaces. LIS, we used PDMS-coated glass with micrometer-thick silicone oil films...

Ice formation on concrete surfaces significantly challenges productivity, economic growth, and safety in diverse industrial sectors. Superhydrophobic coatings represent an effective solution to delay ice formation, although their functionality deteriorates under repeated freeze–thaw cycles. To address this issue, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are frequently employed due exceptional photothermal conversion mechanical properties, which contribute extending the sustainability of superhydrophobic...

A novel water-swellable rubber (WSR) was prepared by dynamically vulcanizing polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) blends where a crosslinked poly(sodium acrylate) (CPNaAA) used as super water-absorbent resin and dispersed in the CPE rubber. The mechanical, water-swelling, morphological properties were investigated. results showed that vulcanized PVC/CPNaAA/CPE exhibited obvious elastomeric behavior could be considered thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs). TPVs strong...