Ultrastable Oleophilic PTFE Channel with Wedge Arrays by Femtosecond Laser for Self‐Transport of Oily Droplets in Harsh Environments

Abstract Despite significant advances in oil transport, existing channels remain susceptible to chemical corrosion, resulting in material degradation and eventual functional failure. Here, a biomimetic two‐order wedge channel (TOWC) is presented that combines the chemical inertness of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the precision of femtosecond laser microfabrication. The TOWC integrates a primary wedge channel with secondary micro‐wedge arrays, enabling anti‐gravity transport of low‐surface‐tension (LST) oils at velocities up to 57.9 mm s −1 in air and 15.8 mm s −1 underwater. The enhanced Laplace pressure and capillary rise at the corners, distinct from common single‐wedge/grooved structures, are identified as the key driving forces governing LST liquid transport. Notably, the TOWC exhibits exceptional corrosion resistance, retaining over 95% of its transport efficiency after 30 days of immersion in saturated acetic acid and sodium hydroxide, far exceeding the durability of glass, PDMS, and aluminum counterparts. It also demonstrates remarkable abrasion resistance, maintaining stable performance over 200 cycles of sandy impact. Furthermore, the TOWC enables selective separation of immiscible oils with surface tension differences as small as 1 mN m −1 , long‐distance transport along reconfigurable pathways, and efficient collection of floating oil droplets. This work offers a durable platform for advanced applications in chemical microreactors, targeted drug delivery, and lab‐on‐chip systems.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2025-11-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202524539
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.66
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article

Ultrastable Oleophilic PTFE Channel with Wedge Arrays by Femtosecond Laser for Self‐Transport of Oily Droplets in Harsh Environments

Yuan Wang, Guoqiang Li, Moyuan Cao, Haoyu Bai et al.
1 citations
Advanced Functional Materials
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
0.66
article

Ultrastable Oleophilic PTFE Channel with Wedge Arrays by Femtosecond Laser for Self‐Transport of Oily Droplets in Harsh Environments

Yuan Wang, Guoqiang Li, Moyuan Cao, Haoyu Bai, Haojie Xu, Yiyu Chen, Dongping Xiao, Zehang Cui, Chenghong Guo
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Abstract Despite significant advances in oil transport, existing channels remain susceptible to chemical corrosion, resulting in material degradation and eventual functional failure. Here, a biomimetic two‐order wedge channel (TOWC) is presented that combines the chemical inertness of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and the precision of femtosecond laser microfabrication. The TOWC integrates a primary wedge channel with secondary micro‐wedge arrays, enabling anti‐gravity transport of low‐surface‐tension (LST) oils at velocities up to 57.9 mm s −1 in air and 15.8 mm s −1 underwater. The enhanced Laplace pressure and capillary rise at the corners, distinct from common single‐wedge/grooved structures, are identified as the key driving forces governing LST liquid transport. Notably, the TOWC exhibits exceptional corrosion resistance, retaining over 95% of its transport efficiency after 30 days of immersion in saturated acetic acid and sodium hydroxide, far exceeding the durability of glass, PDMS, and aluminum counterparts. It also demonstrates remarkable abrasion resistance, maintaining stable performance over 200 cycles of sandy impact. Furthermore, the TOWC enables selective separation of immiscible oils with surface tension differences as small as 1 mN m −1 , long‐distance transport along reconfigurable pathways, and efficient collection of floating oil droplets. This work offers a durable platform for advanced applications in chemical microreactors, targeted drug delivery, and lab‐on‐chip systems.

Advanced Functional Materials
Southwest University of Science and Technology (CN), Nankai University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 25%
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
0.66
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