Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention relates to an article having a liquid-impregnated surface. The surface includes a matrix of solid features (e.g., non-toxic and/or edible features) spaced sufficiently close to stably contain a liquid therebetween or therewithin, wherein the liquid is non-toxic and/or edible. The article may contain, for example, a food or other consumer product, such as ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to apparatus comprising a liquid-impregnated surface, said surface comprising an impregnating liquid and a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating liquid therebetween or therewithin, and methods thereof. In some embodiments, one or both of the following holds: (i) 0<??0.25, where ? is a representative fraction of the projected surface area of the liquid-impregnated surface corresponding to non-submerged solid at equilibrium; and (ii) Sow(a)<0, where Sow(a) is spreading coefficient, defined as ?wa??wo??oa, where ? is the interfacial tension between the two phases designated by subscripts w, a, and o, where w is water, a is air, and o is the impregnating liquid.

Abstract: Methods described herein provide a way to reduce or eliminate drag and adhesion of a substance flowing over a surface by creating a vapor cushion via evaporation of a phase-changing material of or on the surface or encapsulated within textures of the surface. The vapor cushion causes the flowing substance to be suspended over the surface, greatly reducing friction, drag, and adhesion between the flowing substance and the surface. The temperature of the flowing substance is above the sublimation point and/or melting point of the phase-changing material. The phase-changing material undergoes a phase change (evaporation or sublimation) upon contact with the flowing substance due to local heat transfer from the flowing substance to the material, generating a vapor cushion between the solid or liquid material and the flowing substance.

Abstract: A method for precise control of movement of a motive phase on a lubricant-impregnated surface includes providing a lubricant-impregnated surface, introducing the motive phase onto the lubricant-impregnated surface, and exposing the droplets to an electric and/or magnetic field to induce controlled movement of the droplets on the surface. The lubricant-impregnated surface includes a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating lubricant therebetween or therewithin. The motive phase is immiscible or scarcely miscible with the impregnating lubricant.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to the collection of a species from a gas stream are generally provided. The systems and methods described herein may allow for collection of a species such as a fluid (e.g., water) with a relatively high collection efficiency. Such systems and methods may be useful in various applications including, for example, fog collection. In some embodiments, the systems and methods enhance water collection from airborne fog to produce usable water. Advantageously, the methods described herein may, in some cases, incorporate ions into the gas stream such that the species present in the gas stream follows electric field lines and/or are attracted to a grounded (or charged) collector. Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may suppress the adverse effects of natural conditions such as the velocity and direction of the wind.

Abstract: Described herein are medical devices and medical implements with high lubricity to flesh (or biological fluid) and/or inhibited nucleation on its surface. The device has a surface comprising an impregnating liquid and a plurality of micro-scale and/or nano-scale solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating liquid therebetween. The impregnating liquid fills spaces between said solid features, the surface stably contains the impregnating liquid between the solid features, and the impregnating liquid is substantially held in place between the plurality of solid features regardless of orientation of the surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to the formation of a reaction product on a surface are generally provided. The systems and methods described herein may allow for collection of the retention of a fluid by a surface in a relatively high amount. Such systems and methods may be useful in various applications including, for example, agriculture. In some embodiments, the systems and methods enhance water retention on hydrophobic surfaces of plants. Advantageously, the methods described herein may, in some cases, result in the formation of reaction products on a surface that serve to prevent fluids from being removed from the surface. Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may suppress the adverse effects of natural conditions such as high surface energies and wind.

Abstract: Crystal nucleation, and associated articles, systems, and methods, are generally described.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention relates to an article having a liquid-impregnated surface. The surface includes a matrix of solid features (e.g., non-toxic and/or edible features) spaced sufficiently close to stably contain a liquid therebetween or therewithin, wherein the liquid is non-toxic and/or edible. The article may contain, for example, a food or other consumer product, such as ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise.

Abstract: Articles, systems, and methods in which electromagnetic energy is converted to heat (e.g., for the purpose of inducing or inhibiting phase change of a material disposed over a surface) are generally described.

Abstract: Methods related to forming reaction products on surfaces are generally provided. Some methods comprise applying first and second polyelectrolytes in first and second polyelectrolyte carrier fluids to a surface. The first and second polyelectrolytes may be different, and the first and second carrier fluids may be the same or different. Some methods comprise forming a mixture of the first and second polyelectrolytes in a mixture carrier fluid that comprises the first and/or second carrier fluids. The first and second polyelectrolyte may be removed from the mixture carrier fluid to form a reaction product on the surface. In some embodiments, the mixture carrier fluid comprises a salt with a molecular weight of less than or equal to 1 kg/mol at a concentration within the mixture carrier fluid of from 0.01 M to 0.5 M. In some embodiments, the mixture carrier fluid has a turbidity of greater than or equal to 10 NTU and a viscosity of less than or equal to 1 Pa*s.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to the formation of a reaction product on a surface are generally provided. The systems and methods described herein may allow for collection of the retention of a fluid by a surface in a relatively high amount. Such systems and methods may be useful in various applications including, for example, agriculture. In some embodiments, the systems and methods enhance water retention on hydrophobic surfaces of plants. Advantageously, the methods described herein may, in some cases, result in the formation of reaction products on a surface that serve to prevent fluids from being removed from the surface. Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may suppress the adverse effects of natural conditions such as high surface energies and wind.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to the collection of a species from a gas stream are generally provided. The systems and methods described herein may allow for collection of a species such as a fluid (e.g., water) with a relatively high collection efficiency. Such systems and methods may be useful in various applications including, for example, fog collection. In some embodiments, the systems and methods enhance water collection from airborne fog to produce usable water. Advantageously, the methods described herein may, in some cases, incorporate ions into the gas stream such that the species present in the gas stream follows electric field lines and/or are attracted to a grounded (or charged) collector. Advantageously, the systems and methods described herein may suppress the adverse effects of natural conditions such as the velocity and direction of the wind.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to apparatus comprising a liquid-impregnated surface, said surface comprising an impregnating liquid and a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating liquid therebetween or therewithin, and methods thereof. In some embodiments, one or both of the following holds: (i) 0<??0.25, where ? is a representative fraction of the projected surface area of the liquid-impregnated surface corresponding to non-submerged solid at equilibrium; and (ii) Sow(a)<0, where Sow(a) is spreading coefficient, defined as ?wa??wo??oa, where ? is the interfacial tension between the two phases designated by subscripts w, a, and o, where w is water, a is air, and o is the impregnating liquid.

Abstract: Presented herein are articles and methods relating to manufactured superhydrophobic, superoleophobic, and/or supermetallophobic surfaces with macro-scale features (macro features) configured to induce controlled asymmetry in a liquid film produced by impinging phase (e.g., impinging droplet(s)) onto the surface, thereby further reducing the contact time between an impinging liquid and the surface.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for transporting and/or harvesting gas from bubbles, as well as associated articles and systems. In some embodiments, transporting and/or harvesting the gas from the bubbles can reduce or prevent the amount of foam that is present within a system. According to certain embodiments, a conduit comprising a porous wall portion can be at least partially submerged into a foam and/or a bubble-containing liquid. The porous wall portion of the conduit can be configured and/or arranged, according to certain embodiments, such that the porous wall portion provides a fluidic pathway through which gas from the bubbles within the liquid may be channeled to a gaseous environment in the interior portion of the conduit. The gas may be transported, according to certain embodiments, along the interior portion of the conduit into an external gaseous environment and/or harvested from the interior portion of the conduit.

Abstract: Foam mitigation using a variety of articles, systems, and methods is generally described. According to certain embodiments, surfaces with certain wetting properties can be used to reduce or eliminate the formation of foam from bubble-containing liquids. In some embodiments, a surface with certain wetting properties is configured and/or arranged within bubble-containing liquids such that the surface provides a gaseous fluidic pathway through which gas from the bubbles within the liquid may be channeled to a gaseous environment outside the liquid.

Abstract: Upon light irradiation, a dye sensitized photoactive surfaces can undergo hydrophobic to hydrophilic conversion in both in air and oil environments.

Abstract: Polymers comprising fluorinated side chains that can be used for water resistance coatings on substrates and are deposited by initiated chemical vapor deposition are generally described.

Abstract: Meshes capable of droplet fragmentation are generally described. Inventive articles, systems, and uses thereof are also described.