Recent advances and challenges of fluid manipulation on microstructured surfaces

Microstructured surfaces play a pivotal role in fluid manipulation, leveraging their unique chemical and physical properties to exert precise control over fluid behavior. These structures significantly influence fluid wettability, adhesion, mobility, and dynamic behavior, offering broad prospects in microfluidics, biomedicine, energy, materials science, and other fields. Despite existing challenges related to stability, wear resistance and manufacturing processes, the field of microstructured fluid control holds substantial promise for future advancements. This review surveys the latest advancements in microstructured surface fluid control technology, spanning from the design and fabrication of microstructured surfaces to their applications and deployment across various domains. We initially explore the design principles and fabrication methods of microstructured surfaces, and delve into the strategies employed for fluid manipulation by modulating surface chemistry and morphography. Additionally, the applications of microstructured surfaces in microfluidic control, biomedical engineering, energy harvesting, and environmental monitoring are further emphasized and discussed, showcasing the significant contributions to technological innovation. Finally, the current technical challenges and potential applications of liquid manipulation on microstructured surfaces are featured, and their prospects are discussed based on the current development.