【软物质科学系列报告39】Dr. Jiaxi Cui: Earthworm-inspired rough polymer coatings with self-replenishing lubrication for adaptive drag-reduction and stainless surfaces

报告摘要：

Earworms exhibit an extraordinary ability to pass through adhesive soil without inducing stain on the skins because of their drag-induced secretion of lubricating mucus and the rough texture on their skins for stabilizing the lubricating mucus. In this presentation, I will describe our attempt to mimic this earthworm-like lubricating mechanism. Our strategy is based on the combination of rough surface morphology and stimuli-responsive secretion. Dynamic polymer systems in which the lubricant is self-stored as droplets in a supramolecular gel matrix are employed. By using a breath feature method, the polymer materials are fabricated into films consisting of rough surface and liquid-secretion bulk gel. These earthworm-inspired coatings exhibited fast and site-specific secretion under external stimuli such as mechanical pressing, heating, chemical irritation. Stabilized by the surface texture, the secreted oil forms lubricating layers that reduce friction and adhesion. This earthworm-inspired lubricating mechanism allows for the self-replenishment of lubricant consumed in a solid-based environment.