The Penn State Research Foundation

Tak-Sing Wong

Birgitt Boschitsch

Jing Wang

Nan Sun

Pak Kin Wong

Hui Li

Yi Lu

Ying Wan

Xianming Dai

Shikuan Yang

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 biochemical analysis system capable of sample preparation and processing can include at least one inlet channel having a non-fouling, slippery surface to autonomously transport a fluid sample to a chamber by a geometry of the at least one inlet channel. The at least one inlet channel can include a first end, which is open and exposed, and a second end connected to the chamber for mixing and reaction of the fluid sample, and the at least one inlet channel can include a converging or diverging angle.

Biochemical analysis system

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 process for preparing a repellant smooth surface includes applying a coating composition onto a smooth surface of a substrate having hydroxyl functional groups thereon and an average roughness Ra of less than 4 &#x3bc;m. The coating composition includes: (i) a polymerizable silane or siloxane or both selected from the group consisting of dimethyldimethoxysilane, dimethoxy-methyl(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)silane, dimethoxy(methyl)octylsilane, diethoxydimethylsilane, (ii) a solvent and (iii) an acid catalyst. The process further includes polymerizing the silane or siloxane or both from the hydroxyl functional groups on the smooth surface of the substrate to form a chemical layer of graft polymers having ends anchored to the smooth surface and applying a lubricant coating over the formed chemical layer to adhere and maintain the lubricant on the smooth surface and form a lubricant-entrenched smooth surface as the repellant smooth surface.

Liquids and viscoelastic material repellent and anti-biofouling coatings

A coated smooth surface of a substrate repels liquids and viscoelastic materials and can have anti-staining and anti-biofouling properties. The smooth surface can be coated by applying a chemical layer on the surface and a lubricant. Such coated surfaces are useful for use in toilets, urinals, or other devices for the processing of liquids and viscoelastic materials such as solid or semi-solid metabolic waste of human digestive system. Such coated surfaces can also be applied to windows for buildings or vehicles such as automobiles or camera lenses to repel liquids (e.g., rain), ice, frost, insect residues, and birds' feces.

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.

A robust and self-healing coating has been developed by incorporating a thermally self-healing chemical coating on smooth and/or roughened solid. When the chemically coated solid is combined with a lubricating fluid, the material system is capable to repel a broad range of liquids and solids. The thermally self-healing chemical coating may be applied on various industrial metals, glass and plastics, and has shown exceptionally physical and chemical robustness as compared to state-of-the-art liquid-repellent coatings.

Growing community of inventors

University Park, PA, United States of America

Tak-Sing Wong