Lacrimal Gland‐Inspired Active Replenishing Slippery Surface for Robust Anti‐Pollution Optical Windows

ABSTRACT As a crucial part of optical systems, optical windows play an important role in medicine and industry, yet their performance is often compromised by surface contamination. Inspired by the lacrimal gland's tear storage and secretion mechanism, we propose a Lacrimal Gland‐inspired Active Replenishing Slippery Surface (ARSS) fabricated by femtosecond laser microprocessing. The surface integrates embedded storage cabins and a thermally responsive heating circuit such that localized heating creates a temperature gradient upon activation, inducing both thermal expansion of the stored silicone oil and Marangoni flow for stimulus‐responsive lubricant secretion to replenish the sliding layer. The fabricated surface exhibits high transparency exceeding 90%, excellent self‐cleaning properties against challenging pollutants including marine organisms, dust, and salt crystallization, and exceptional durability withstanding over 50 000 droplet sliding tests without performance degradation. This bioinspired design offers a long‐lasting anti‐fouling solution for optical windows, with significant potential for applications in marine engineering, biomedical devices, and other demanding environments.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Materials Technologies
Published
2026-08-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.71180
Primary Topic
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Lacrimal Gland‐Inspired Active Replenishing Slippery Surface for Robust Anti‐Pollution Optical Windows

Jie Liang, Zhichao Kan, Yuhao Chen, Haitao Liu et al.
Advanced Materials Technologies
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
article

Lacrimal Gland‐Inspired Active Replenishing Slippery Surface for Robust Anti‐Pollution Optical Windows

Jie Liang, Zhichao Kan, Yuhao Chen, Haitao Liu, Feng Chen, Chongxiao Xia, Qing Yang, Na Zhao, Qingyun Ma
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT As a crucial part of optical systems, optical windows play an important role in medicine and industry, yet their performance is often compromised by surface contamination. Inspired by the lacrimal gland's tear storage and secretion mechanism, we propose a Lacrimal Gland‐inspired Active Replenishing Slippery Surface (ARSS) fabricated by femtosecond laser microprocessing. The surface integrates embedded storage cabins and a thermally responsive heating circuit such that localized heating creates a temperature gradient upon activation, inducing both thermal expansion of the stored silicone oil and Marangoni flow for stimulus‐responsive lubricant secretion to replenish the sliding layer. The fabricated surface exhibits high transparency exceeding 90%, excellent self‐cleaning properties against challenging pollutants including marine organisms, dust, and salt crystallization, and exceptional durability withstanding over 50 000 droplet sliding tests without performance degradation. This bioinspired design offers a long‐lasting anti‐fouling solution for optical windows, with significant potential for applications in marine engineering, biomedical devices, and other demanding environments.

Advanced Materials Technologies
Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 23%
Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.