Oil-Infused Slippery Surface on Al Substrates Fabricated by Chemical Etching

Abstract

In recent years, the oil-infused slippery surfaces inspired by Nepenthes pitcher have potential applications in domestic and industrial fields due to their excellent water repellence. However, the current preparation methods of the oil-infused slippery surfaces have the disadvantages of time-consuming, expensive equipment and complex processes. In our research, we reported an approach to prepare the oil-infused slippery surface with multi-functional applications by simple chemical etching. First, Al plates were etched by hydrochloric acid solution and modification with lower surface energy. Then, the as-prepared samples were immersed into the lubricant oil. After that, the oil-infused slippery surface with a water slide-off angle of 3° was obtained. The freezing rain tests, chemical stability tests, and self-cleaning tests were conducted on original Al plate and the as-prepared sample. This work will enrich the preparation methods of the oil-infused slippery surfaces.