Simulation-based research on enhancing lubricity: investigating wettability and textured surfaces in alkane lubricants under boundary lubrication conditions.

Changing the wettability and surface texturing have a significant impact on lubrication. In this study, the researchers used the molecular dynamics (MD) method to investigate how adjusting the interaction between alkanes and the wall affects oil film morphology and frictional properties under boundary lubrication. The findings revealed that the bearing capacity was influenced by both the morphology of the oil film and the strength of solid-liquid adsorption. In cases where the walls had weak wettability, the alkanes formed clusters to effectively separate the walls, while in cases where the walls had strong wettability, the oil film spread and formed a strong adsorption film. The super oleophilic textured surface could enhance the oil film adsorption capacity and replenish the oil film to the friction area in time, and the super oleophobic smooth surface could further reduce the friction coefficient. Therefore, a composite surface consisting of a super oleophilic textured surface and a super oleophobic smooth surface can be designed to enhance the bearing capacity of the oil film and reduce friction.

Multibioinspired Hybrid Superwetting Surface for Efficient Fog Collection and Power Generation.

Obtaining water and renewable energy from the atmosphere provides a potential solution to the growing energy shortage. Leveraging the synergistic inspiration from desert beetles, cactus spines, and rice leaves, here, a multibioinspired hybrid wetting rod (HWR) is prepared through simple solution immersion and laser etching, which endows an efficient water collection from the atmosphere. Importantly, benefiting from the bionic asymmetric pattern design and the three-dimensional structure, the HWR possesses an omnidirectional fog collection with a rate of up to 23 g cm-2 h-1. We further show that the HWR could be combined with a droplet-based electricity generator to convert kinetic energy from falling droplets into electrical energy with a maximum output voltage of 200 V and a current of 2.47 µA to light up 28 LEDs. Collectively, this research provides a strategy for synchronous fog collection and power generation, which is promising for environmentally friendly energy production.

The maturation of native uropathogenic Escherichia coli biofilms seen through a non-interventional lens.

Urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are a significant global health challenge. The UPEC biofilm lifestyle is believed to play an important role in infection recurrency and treatment resistance, but our understanding of how the extracellular matrix (ECM) components curli and cellulose contribute to biofilm formation and pathogenicity is limited. Here, we study the spatial and temporal development of native UPEC biofilm using agar-based detection methods where the non-toxic, optically active fluorescent tracer EbbaBiolight 680 reports the expression and structural location of curli in real-time. An in vitro screen of the biofilm capacity of common UPEC strains reveals significant strain variability and identifies UPEC No. 12 (UPEC12) as a strong biofilm former at 28 °C and 37 °C. Non-interventional microscopy, including time-lapse and 2-photon, reveal significant horizontal and vertical heterogeneity in the UPEC12 biofilm structure. We identify region-specific expression of curli, with a shift in localization from the bottom of the flat central regions of the biofilm to the upper surface in the topographically dramatic intermediate region. When investigating if the rdar morphotype affects wettability of the biofilm surface, we found that the nano-architecture of curli guided by cellulose, rather than the rdar macrostructures, leads to increased hydrophobicity of the biofilm. By providing new insights at exceptional temporal and spatial resolution, we demonstrate how non-interventional analysis of native biofilms will facilitate the next generation of understanding into the roles of ECM components during growth of UPEC biofilms and their contribution to the pathogenesis of UTI.

Biomimetic Fog Collector with Hybrid and Gradient Wettabilities.

Water scarcity is a global problem and collecting water from the air is a viable solution to this crisis. Inspired by Namib Desert beetle, leaf venation and spider silk, we designed an integrated biomimetic system with hybrid wettability and wettability gradient. The hybrid hydrophilic-hydrophobic wettability design that bionomics desert beetle's back can construct a three-dimensional topography with a water layer on the surface, expanding the contact area with the fog flow and thus improving the droplet trapping efficiency. The venation-like structure with wettability gradient not only provides a planned path for water transportation, but also accelerates water removal under the synergistic effect of gravity and wettability driving force, thus further improving the surface regeneration rate. The collector combines droplet capture, coalescence, transportation, separation, and storage capabilities, which provides new ideas for the design of future high-efficiency fog collectors.

Buoyancy-Assisted Fabrication of Liquid Diode: Janus Nanofibrous Membrane for Efficient Wastewater Treatment.

The pressing need for effective methods to separate oil and water in oily wastewater has spurred the development of innovative solutions. This work presents the creation and evaluation of a Janus nanofibrous membrane, also known as the Liquid Diode, developed using electrospinning (e-spinning) and buoyancy-assisted hydrothermal techniques. The membrane features a unique structure: one side is composed of PVDF nanofibers embedded with a GO/TiO2 composite, exhibiting in-air superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties, while the reverse side consists of PVDF nanofibers with a ZnO nanorod array, demonstrating in-air superhydrophilic and underwater (UW) superoleophobic properties. This distinct asymmetric wettability enables the membrane to effectively separate both water-in-oil (w-in-o) and oil-in-water (o-in-w) emulsions, achieving an impressive liquid flux and separation efficiency (SEff). The in-air superhydrophobic side of the Janus nanofibrous membrane achieves a maximum oil flux (Fo) of 3506 ± 250 L m-2 h-1, while the in-air superhydrophilic side achieves a maximum water flux (Fw) of 1837 ± 150 L m-2 h-1, with SEff exceeding 98% for both sides. Furthermore, the Janus nanofibrous membrane maintained reliable mechanical stability after 10 cycles of sandpaper abrasion test and demonstrated excellent chemical stability when subjected to acidic, alkaline, cold water and hot water conditions for 24 h. These properties, combined with its ability in breaking down of organic contaminants (98% ± 2% in 210 min) and pharmaceutical contaminants (97% ± 2% in 210 min) under visible light, highlight its photocatalytic potential. Additionally, the membrane's antifouling and antibacterial properties suggest long-term and sustainable use in wastewater treatment applications. The synergistic combination of these superior properties positions the Janus nanofibrous membrane as a promising solution for addressing complex challenges in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Cutting-Based Manufacturing and Surface Wettability of Microtextures on Pure Titanium.

Pure titanium is a preferred material for medical applications due to its outstanding properties, and the fabrication of its surface microtexture proves to be an effective method for further improving its surface-related functional properties, albeit imposing high demands on the processing accuracy of surface microtexture. Currently, we investigate the fabrication of precise microtextures on pure titanium surfaces with different grid depths using precision-cutting methods, as well as assess its impact on surface wettability through a combination of experiments and finite element simulations. Specifically, a finite element model is established for pure titanium precision cutting, which can predict the surface formation behavior during the cutting process and further reveal its dependence on cutting parameters. Based on this, precision-cutting experiments were performed to explore the effect of cutting parameters on the morphology of microtextured pure titanium with which optimized cutting parameters for high-precision microtextures and uniform feature size were obtained. Subsequent surface wettability measurement experiments demonstrated from a macroscopic perspective that the increase in the grid depth of the microtexture increases the surface roughness, thereby enhancing the hydrophilicity. Corresponding fluid-solid coupling finite-element simulation is carried out to demonstrate from a microscopic perspective that the increase in the grid depth of the microtexture decreases the cohesive force inside the droplet, thereby enhancing the hydrophilicity.

Surface Characteristics and Artificial Weathering Resistance of Oil-Based Coatings on the Chemically and Thermally Modified Short-Rotation Teak Wood.

Improving the durability of short-rotation wood can be achieved through chemical and thermal modification. Chemical and thermal modification can have an impact on the physicochemical properties of wood, which can affect wood's surface characteristics and its resistance to weathering. The purpose of this study was to investigate the surface characteristics and artificial weathering resistance of chemically and thermally modified short-rotation teak wood coated with linseed oil (LO)-, tung oil (TO)-, and commercial oil-based coatings consisting of a mixture of linseed oil and tung oil (LT) and commercial oil-based polyurethane resin (LB) coatings. The short-rotation teak woods were prepared in untreated and treated with furfuryl alcohol (FA), thermal treatment (HT) at 150 and 220 °C, and combination of glycerol-maleic anhydride (GMA) impregnation with thermal treatment at 150 and 220 °C. The surface characteristics measured were surface free energy, wettability, Persoz hardness, bonding quality, and color changes before and after artificial weathering exposure. The results showed that chemical and thermal modifications treatment tended to reduce total surface free energy (SFE), hardness, wettability, and bonding quality. FA and GMA at 220 °C treatments provided homogenization effect on surface characteristics, especially in total SFE and wettability. The total SFE of untreated wood ranged from 45.00 to 51.13 mN/m, and treated wood ranged from 40.58 to 50.79 mN/m. The wettability of oil-based coating according to K-value ranged from 0.20 to 0.54. TO presented better photostability than LO. Short-rotation teak wood coated with oil-based commercial coatings presented better weathering resistance compared to pure natural drying oil. Commercial oil-based coatings provided better weathering protection for the chemically and thermally modified teak wood. The application of oil-based coatings on chemically and thermally modified short-rotation teak is being considered for the development of a better wood-protection system.

Investigation and Analysis of Wettability, Anisotropy, and Adhesion in Bionic Upper and Lower Surfaces Inspired by Indocalamus Leaves.

Nature provides us with a wealth of inspiration for the design of bionic functional surfaces. Numerous types of plant leaves with exceptional wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion are extensively employed in many engineering applications. Inspired by the wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion of indocalamus leaves, bionic upper and lower surfaces (BUSs and BLSs) of the indocalamus leaf were successfully prepared using a facile approach combining laser scanning and chemical modification. The results demonstrated the BUSs and BLSs obtained similar structural features to the upper and lower surfaces of the indocalamus leaf and exhibited enhanced and more-controllable wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion. More importantly, we conducted a detailed comparative analysis of the wettability, anisotropy, and adhesion between BUSs and BLSs. Finally, BUSs and BLSs were also explored for the corresponding potential applications, including self-cleaning, liquid manipulation, and fog collection, thereby broadening their practical utility. We believe that this study can contribute to the enrichment of the research on novel biological models and provide significant insights into the development of multifunctional bionic surfaces.

Relationship between Roughness and Wettability of Nine Types of Implant Surfaces and Potential Interference of Surface Oxygen and Carbon: In Vitro Evaluation.

Aim: To assess the roughness and hydrophilicity of nine types of dental implant surfaces, while also examining the presence of contaminants carbon and oxygen on these surfaces. Furthermore, the study investigated potential correlations between these characteristics across the analyzed surfaces. Materials and Methods: The surfaces analyzed were as follows: MI: machined (turned), Implacil implant; TOI: blasted with titanium oxide, Implacil implant; TOAEI: blasted with titanium oxide and acid-etched, Implacil implant; ZAED: blasted with zirconia and acid-etched, DSP implant; CPD: coated with calcium phosphate, DSP implant; XD: subjected to an experimental treatment (patent pending), DSP implant; DAEHAS: double acid-etched and activated with hydroxyapatite nano-crystals, SIN implant; DAES: double acid-etched, SIN implant; and AMP: untreated surface of the Plenum implant, produced by additive manufacturing. Four and five disc-shaped specimens were used in the hydrophilicity and roughness assessments, respectively. Roughness was evaluated by optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy; hydrophilicity was determined using the sessile-drop technique; and the chemical analysis was performed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The Kruskal- Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman correlation tests were employed to analyze the data (p < 0.10). Results: Significant differences were observed among the analyzed surfaces in terms of both roughness and hydrophilicity (p < 0.001). The surface exhibiting the highest roughness was AMP, whereas the greatest hydrophilicity was exhibited by CPD. Correlations between roughness and hydrophobicity were observed for MI (r = 0.936, p = 0.009), ZAED (r = 0.957, p = 0.004), and DAES (r = 0.964, p = 0.005). The carbon concentration observed on the CPD surface was lower than that observed on the other surfaces, whereas the oxygen concentrations were similar. No correlations were observed between the presence of contaminants and the roughness or hydrophilicity characteristics. Conclusion: Roughness and hydrophilicity values exhibited considerable variation among the tested surfaces. Aside from the CPD surface, comparable concentrations of carbon and oxygen were detected. Although correlations between roughness and hydrophilicity were observed only for the ZAED, DAES, and MI surfaces, these correlations were inadequate to establish a causal relationship between the two surface characteristics.

Immunocytochemical evaluation of aquaporins and cell wall components and their influence on foliar water uptake in Andean Melastomataceae.

Andean ecosystems are characterized by high humidity, mainly from rain and fog events. Because of differences in altitude two Andean ecosystems - sub-Andean forest and Páramo -face different environmental pressures that affect leaf anatomy and cell wall composition and, consequently, species foliar water uptake (FWU) capacity. Here, FWU capacity of eight species in the Melastomataceae was evaluated and found to be related to proportions of cell wall components and aquaporins in the two ecosystems. Cellulose was labelled with Calcofluor white, and aquaporin and pectins were labelled with monoclonal antibodies. There were differences in plant FWU capacity in both ecosystems, with higher FWU capacity in sub-Andean forest species than in Páramo forest species. Cell wall components were positively related to FWU, with increased FWU related to pectin and aquaporin content of the plasma membrane. Differences in water availability in the two analysed environments led to differences in FWU capacity that are associated with leaf anatomical traits and cell wall composition. In these two environments, plants with similar traits are selected to respond to given environmental pressures. Traits that favour FWU in sub-Andean forest species may lead to further advances of these species in this environments.

Biomimetic Leaf-Shaped Wedge Structure with Mixed Wettability for Fog Harvesting.

Water scarcity is a pressing issue in arid and semi-arid regions, making fog harvesting a promising method for water collection. However, enhancing the rate of fog harvesting remains a challenge. Controlling the movement of droplets on functional surfaces is crucial for the development of effective water-harvesting devices. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) fog-harvesting device with mixed wettability is fabricated using a combination of physical and chemical techniques. With inspiration drawn from natural organisms, such as the desert beetle and Nephrolepis cordifolia, which can both live in low humidity, a copper substrate with a leaf-shaped wedge superhydrophilic structure and flat superhydrophobic regions is fabricated for fog harvesting. The modified surface results in a maximum 49.89% improvement in fog-harvesting efficiency compared to the original copper substrate. The synergistic effect of the 3D structure and mixed wettability of this study offers an idea for improving fog collection efficiency, with potential implications for energy sustainability water resources.

3D Wetting Gradient Janus Sports Bras for Efficient Sweat Removal: A Strategy to Improve Women's Sports Comfort and Health.

Developing Janus fabrics with excellent one-way sweat transport capacity is an attractive way for providing comfort sensation and protecting the health during exercise. In this work, a 3D wetting gradient Janus fabric (3DWGJF) is first proposed to address the issue of excessive sweat accumulation in women's breasts, followed by integration with a sponge pad to form a 3D wetting gradient Janus sports bra (3DWGJSB). The 3D wetting gradient enables the prepared fabric to control the horizontal migration of sweat in one-way mode (x/y directions) and then unidirectionally penetrate downward (z direction), finally keeping the water content on the inner side of 3DWGJF (skin side) at ≈0%. In addition, the prepared 3DWGJF has good water vapor transmittance rate (WVTR: 0.0409 g cm-2 h-1) and an excellent water evaporation rate (0.4704 g h-1). Due to the high adhesion of transfer prints to the fabrics and their excellent mechanical properties, the 3DWGJF is remarkably durable and capable of withstanding over 500 laundering cycles and 400 abrasion cycles. This work may inspire the design and fabrication of next-generation moisture management fabrics with an effective sweat-removal function for women's health.

Effective Unidirectional Wetting of Liquids on Multi-Gradient, Bio-Inspired Surfaces Fabricated by 3D Printing and Surface Modification.

The movement of liquid droplets on the energy gradient surface has attracted extensive attention inspired by biological features in nature, such as the periodic spindle-shaped nodes in spider silks and conical-like barbs of cacti, and the structure-property-function relationship of multifunctional gradient surfaces. In this study, a series of specific patterns are fabricated with 3D printing technology, followed by modification via the atmospheric pressure plasma treatment and liquid phase chemical deposition, resulting in enhancing the ability of water droplets of 5 µL to travel 18.47 mm on a horizontal plane and 22.75 mm against gravity at up to a 20° tilting angle. Additionally, analysis techniques have been employed, including a contact angle analyzer, ESCA, and a laser confocal microscope to evaluate the sample performance. This work could further be applied to many applications related to microfluidic devices, drug delivery and water/fog collection.

Electrospun Ibuprofen-Loaded Blend PCL/PEO Fibers for Topical Drug Delivery Applications.

Electrospun drug-eluting fibers have demonstrated potentials in topical drug delivery applications, where drug releases can be modulated by polymer fiber compositions. In this study, blend fibers of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) at various compositions were electrospun from 10 wt% of polymer solutions to encapsulate a model drug of ibuprofen (IBP). The results showed that the average polymer solution viscosities determined the electrospinning parameters and the resulting average fiber diameters. Increasing PEO contents in the blend PCL/PEO fibers decreased the average elastic moduli, the average tensile strength, and the average fracture strains, where IBP exhibited a plasticizing effect in the blend PCL/PEO fibers. Increasing PEO contents in the blend PCL/PEO fibers promoted the surface wettability of the fibers. The in vitro release of IBP suggested a transition from a gradual release to a fast release when increasing PEO contents in the blend PCL/PEO fibers up to 120 min. The in vitro viability of blend PCL/PEO fibers using MTT assays showed that the fibers were compatible with MEF-3T3 fibroblasts. In conclusion, our results explained the scientific correlations between the solution properties and the physicomechanical properties of electrospun fibers. These blend PCL/PEO fibers, having the ability to modulate IBP release, are suitable for topical drug delivery applications.

Effect of Electrolysis Conditions on Electrodeposition of Cobalt-Tin Alloys, Their Structure, and Wettability by Liquids.

The aim of this study was a systematic analysis of the influence of anions (chloride and sulfate) on the electrochemical behavior of the Co-Sn system during codeposition from gluconate baths. The pH-dependent multiple equilibria in cobalt-tin baths were calculated using stability constants. The codeposition of the metals was characterized thermodynamically considering the formation of various CoxSny intermetallic phases. The alloys obtained at different potentials were characterized in terms of their elemental (EDS and anodic stripping) and phase compositions (XRD), the development of preferred orientation planes (texture coefficients), surface morphology (SEM), and wettability (water; diiodomethane; surface energy). The mass of the deposits and cathodic current efficiencies were strongly dependent on both the deposition potential and the bath composition. The morphology and composition of the alloys were mainly dependent on the deposition potential, while the effect of the anions was less emphasized. Two-phase alloys were produced at potentials -0.9 V (Ag/AgCl) and lower, and they consisted of a mixture of tetragonal tin and an uncommon tetragonal CoSn phase. The preferential orientation planes of tin grains were dependent on the cobalt incorporation into the deposits and anion type in the bath, while the latter did not affect the preferential orientation plane of the CoSn phase. The surface wettability of the alloys displayed hydrophobicity and oleophilicity originating from the hierarchical porous surface topography rather than the elemental or phase composition. The codeposition of the metals occurs within the progressive nucleation model, but at more electronegative potentials and in the presence of sulfate ions, a transition from progressive to instantaneous nucleation can be possible. This correlated well with the partial polarization curves of the alloy deposition and the texture of the tin phase.

Simulating Two-Phase Seepage in Undisturbed Soil Based on Lattice Boltzmann Method and X-ray Computed Tomography Images.

The two-phase seepage fluid (i.e., air and water) behaviors in undisturbed granite residual soil (U-GRS) have not been comprehensively studied due to a lack of accurate and representative models of its internal pore structure. By leveraging X-ray computed tomography (CT) along with the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) enhanced by the Shan-Chen model, this study simulates the impact of internal pore characteristics of U-GRS on the water-gas two-phase seepage flow behaviors. Our findings reveal that the fluid demonstrates a preference for larger and straighter channels for seepage, and as seepage progresses, the volume fraction of the water/gas phases exhibits an initial increase/decrease trend, eventually stabilizing. The results show the dependence of two-phase seepage velocity on porosity, while the local seepage velocity is influenced by the distribution and complexity of the pore structure. This emphasizes the need to consider pore distribution and connectivity when studying two-phase flow in undisturbed soil. It is observed that the residual gas phase persists within the pore space, primarily localized at the pore margins and dead spaces. Furthermore, the study identifies that hydrophobic walls repel adjacent fluids, thereby accelerating fluid movement, whereas hydrophilic walls attract fluids, inducing a viscous effect that decelerates fluid flow. Consequently, the two-phase flow rate is found to increase with then-enhanced hydrophobicity. The apex of the water-phase volume fraction is observed under hydrophobic wall conditions, reaching up to 96.40%, with the residual gas-phase constituting 3.60%. The hydrophilic wall retains more residual gas-phase volume fraction than the neutral wall, followed by the hydrophobic wall. Conclusively, the investigations using X-ray CT and LBM demonstrate that the pore structure characteristics and the wettability of the pore walls significantly influence the two-phase seepage process.

Pore-scale investigation of low-salinity water flooding in a heterogeneous-wet porous medium.

Low-Salinity Water Flooding (LSWF) is a technique aimed at modifying the interactions between rock and fluids particularly altering wettability and reducing interfacial tension (IFT). However, there remains limited understanding of how heterogeneous wettability and the presence of Initial Water Saturation (Swi) can impact the effectiveness of LSWF. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of LSWF mechanisms in the context of heterogeneous wettability, while also considering Swi. The simulations were conducted using OpenFOAM, employing a non-reactive quasi-three-phase flow solver that accounts for wettability alteration and IFT reduction during the mixing of Low-Salinity (LSW) and High-Salinity Water (HSW). A heterogeneous pore geometry is designed, and four distinct scenarios are simulated, encompassing both heterogeneous and homogeneous wettability conditions while considering the presence of Swi. These scenarios included secondary High-Salinity Water Flooding (HSWF), tertiary and secondary LSWF. Notably, the simulations reveal that secondary LSWF consistently yields the highest oil recovery across all scenarios, achieving recovery rates of up to 96.98 %. Furthermore, the presence of Swi significantly influences the performance of LSWF in terms of oil recovery, particularly in heterogeneous wettability conditions where it boosts recovery by up to 3.5 %, but in homogeneous wettability, it decreases recovery by nearly 26 %. These simulations also underscore the pivotal role played by the distribution of oil and HSW phases in profoundly affecting the outcomes of LSWF.

Effect of ethylene oxide groups on calcite wettability reversal by nonionic surfactants: An experimental and molecular dynamics simulation investigation.

HYPOTHESIS: Ethoxylated nonionic surfactants are promising candidates for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) from oil-wet carbonate reservoirs due to their ability to reverse the mineral wettability. The wettability-reversal efficiency increases with the number of the ethoxy (EO) groups in the surfactant molecule. METHODOLOGY: Contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were combined to investigate the wettability reversal of an oil-wet calcite by three ethoxylated nonionic surfactants with 1, 4 and 8 EO groups, respectively, to directly probe the role of the EO groups and to uncover the molecular mechanism responsible for the wettability reversal. FINDINGS: Both experiments and simulations consistently show a clear correlation between the number of EO groups and the wettability reversal efficiency of the surfactants, whereby the higher number of EO groups results in greater degree of wettability reversal. This is due to 1) the more hydrophilic surfactant headgroup weakening the carboxylate interactions with the surface by expanding the surface-adjacent water layer, and 2) the physically larger surfactant molecule attracting the carboxylates more strongly, thus aiding in their removal from the surface.

Liquid-Like Surfaces with Enhanced De-Wettability and Durability: From Structural Designs to Potential Applications.

Liquid-like surfaces (LLSs) with dynamic repellency toward various pollutants (e.g., bacteria, oil, and ice), have shown enormous potential in the fields of biology, environment, and energy. However, most of the reported LLSs cannot meet the demands for practical applications, particularly in terms of de-wettability and durability. To solve these problems, considerable progress has been made in enhancing the de-wettability and durability of LLSs in complex environments. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on the recent progress in LLSs, encompassing designed structures and repellent capabilities, as well as their diverse applications, offering greater insights for the targeted design of desired LLSs. First, a detailed overview of the development of LLSs from the perspective of their molecular structural evolution is provided. Then highlight recent approaches for enhancing the dynamic de-wettability and durability of LLSs by optimizing their structural designs, including linear, looped, crosslinked, and hybrid structures. Later, the diverse applications and unique advantages of recently developed LLSs, including repellency (e.g., liquid anti-adhesion/transportation/condensation, anti-icing/scaling/waxing, and biofouling repellency) are summarized. Finally, Perspectives on potential innovative advancements and the promotion of technology selection to advance this exciting field are offered.

Colloidal lignin particle reinforces the stability of Pickering emulsions prepared with zein nanoparticle.

Zein nanoparticle (ZNP) is at the forefront of research on Pickering emulsions, valued for its self-assembling and surfactant-free nature. Nevertheless, its emulsion stability is undermined by inadequate amphiphilicity. Colloidal lignin particle (CLP), characterized by its antithetical charge and amphiphilic nature, appears the promising for augmenting the stability of ZNP-based emulsion. This study meticulously investigated the impact of CLP on the colloidal properties and emulsifying performance of ZNP. The results revealed that electrostatic interactions between ZNP and CLP significantly mitigated the charge of ZNP and improved its hydrophilic/lipophilic balance. Under optimized conditions (1.0 wt% particle concentration, pH 4.0, 50% oil content), CLP notably reduced droplet sizes (41-225 µm) and enhanced the stability of ZNP-based Pickering emulsion, particularly at ZNP/CLP ratios of 6:4 and 5:5. In nature, CLP improved the stability ZNP-based Pickering emulsions via increased interfacial adsorption, enhanced steric hindrance, and reinforced viscous structure.