The Penn State Research Foundation

Birgitt Boschitsch

Tak-Sing Wong

Nan Sun

Jing Wang

Shikuan Yang

Xianming Dai

Yu Huang

An ostomy bag having a polymeric surface is prepared by forming a polyphenol layer on the surface, forming a silanization layer on the polyphenol layer and forming a lubricant layer entrenched over the silanization layer. The silanization layer is polymerized from a solution including: (i) a polymerizable silane or siloxane or combination thereof; (ii) a solvent; and (iii) an acid catalyst. The silanization layer comprises an array of silanes or siloxanes or a combination thereof each having ends anchored to the polyphenol layer and opposite ends extending away from the polyphenol layer.

Ostomy bag with a slippery surface

Substrates having a textured surface that can maintain or improve droplet mobility in both the Cassie and Wenzel states include a textured surface and a conformal lubricant layer thereover. The textured surface can include a plurality of raised first elements and a plurality of second elements thereon and the conformal lubricant layer over the plurality of raised first elements and covering the plurality of second elements. The plurality of raised first elements can have an average height of between 0.5 μm and 500 μm, and the plurality of second elements can have an average height of between 0.01 μm and 10 μm. Such substrates can be prepared by texturing a surface of a substrate with a plurality of raised first elements and a plurality of second elements thereon; optionally silanizing the textured surface and applying a lubricant layer over the plurality of raised first elements and between the plurality of second elements.

Slippery rough surfaces

Synthetic brochosomes can be prepared by disposing a monolayer of first polymer microspheres on a substrate and forming a layer of metal on the monolayer of the first polymer microspheres. A monolayer of second polymer microspheres is then disposed on the layer of metal to form a template. The second polymer microspheres are smaller than the first polymer microspheres. A brochosome material is then electrodeposited on the template. The brochosome material is selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal oxide, a polymer or a hybrid thereof. The first polymer microspheres and the second polymer microspheres are then removed to form a coating of synthetic brochosomes of the brochosome material on the substrate.

Antireflective synthetic brochosomal coatings

A free standing liquid membrane is disclosed that can selectively separate objects based on the kinetic energy value of the objects such that either an object having a first kinetic energy value can pass through the free standing liquid membrane while retaining the membrane and/or an object having a second kinetic energy value is prevented from passing through the membrane while retaining the membrane. Advantageously, the free standing liquid membrane can remain intact for seconds to hours with multiple objects passing through the membrane.

Free-standing liquid membranes for substance separation, filtration, extraction, and blockage

A substrate with a switchable surface has been developed that can rapidly switch its surface character such as between two distinct liquid-repellent modes: (1) a superhydrophobic mode and (2) a slippery mode. Such surfaces have demonstrated adaptive liquid repellency and water harvesting capabilities.

Switchable liquid repellent and active water harvesting surface

Substrates having a textured surface that can maintain or improve droplet mobility in both the Cassie and Wenzel states include a textured surface and a conformal lubricant layer thereover. The textured surface can include a plurality of raised first elements and a plurality of second elements thereon and the conformal lubricant layer over the plurality of raised first elements and covering the plurality of second elements. The plurality of raised first elements can have an average height of between 0.5 &#x3bc;m and 500 &#x3bc;m, and the plurality of second elements can have an average height of between 0.01 &#x3bc;m and 10 &#x3bc;m. Such substrates can be prepared by texturing a surface of a substrate with a plurality of raised first elements and a plurality of second elements thereon; optionally silanizing the textured surface and applying a lubricant layer over the plurality of raised first elements and between the plurality of second elements.

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Penn State, PA, United States of America

Birgitt Boschitsch