Abstract: Embodiments, described herein relate generally to devices, systems, and methods for producing lubricious surfaces with enhanced durability and which increase the ease of communication of viscous liquids across the same. The system can include a liquid-encapsulated surface including a substrate, a member coupled to the substrate, and an encapsulating liquid disposed on a surface of the member. In some embodiments, the surface of the member can have a chemistry such that the encapsulating liquid preferentially wets the surface and maintains lubricity in the presence of a contacting phase. In some embodiments, the encapsulating liquid can be substantially immiscible with the contacting phase, and/or can have a thickness of less than about 200 microns and/or can have a receding contact angle of less than 20 degrees in the presence of the contacting phase, in some embodiments, a liquid delivery mechanism can be configured to transfer the encapsulating liquid to the member.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of producing a liquid-impregnated surface includes forming a solid particle suspension including a plurality of solid particles with an average dimension of between about 5 nm and about 200 ?m. The solid particle suspension is applied to a surface by spray-depositing the solid particle suspension onto the surface. An impregnating liquid is also applied to the surface. The plurality of solid particles and the impregnating liquid collectively form a liquid-impregnated surface. The impregnating liquid can be applied after the solid particle suspension is applied, or the solid particle suspension can include the impregnating liquid, such that the solid particle suspension and the impregnating liquid are concurrently spray-deposited onto the surface.

Abstract: Embodiments, described herein relate generally to devices, systems, and methods for producing lubricious surfaces with enhanced durability and which increase the ease of communication of viscous liquids across the same. The system can include a liquid-encapsulated surface including a substrate, a member coupled to the substrate, and an encapsulating liquid disposed on a surface of the member. In some embodiments, the surface of the member can have a chemistry such that the encapsulating liquid preferentially wets the surface and maintains lubricity in the presence of a contacting phase. In some embodiments, the encapsulating liquid can be substantially immiscible with the contacting phase, and/or can have a thickness of less than about 200 microns and/or can have a receding contact angle of less than 20 degrees in the presence of the contacting phase. In some embodiments, a liquid delivery mechanism can be configured to transfer the encapsulating liquid to the member.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods of forming liquid-impregnated surfaces, and in particular to methods of preparing solid particle solutions for forming textured surfaces which can be impregnated with an impregnating liquid to form a liquid-impregnated surface. In some embodiments, a method of forming a textured surface includes dissolving a solid in a solvent to form a solution. The solid has a concentration, which is less than a first saturation concentration of the solid in the solvent at a first temperature and greater than a second saturation concentration of the solid in the solvent at a second temperature. The solution is allowed to form a solid particle solution. The solid particle solution is then disposed on a surface and the solvent is allowed to evaporate to form the textured surface on the surface.

Abstract: There is set forth herein a method for providing a nanoparticle array. A nanoparticle network can be provided by nanoparticles combined with surfactant micelle chains. The nanoparticle network can be provided by distributing metal nanoparticles in a surfactant solution and agitating the surfactant solution comprising the nanoparticles to form a gel comprising the nanoparticle network which can be characterized by a distributed array of nanoparticles combined with surfactant micelle chains within a fluid. The gel can comprise a fluid in a continuous phase and the nanoparticles in a discontinuous phase. Apparatus having arrays of nanoparticles are also set forth herein.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to a system and methods for controlling and/or modifying the degradation behavior of degradable materials via a surface treatment and/or coating. This surface treatment and/or coating (also referred to herein as a “barrier”) can be used to modify the degradation profile without changing the bulk of the degradable material. The system includes a substrate that includes a degradable material and barrier configured to protect the substrate from a foreign environment. The barrier can include a conformal coating and/or a liquid impregnated surface engineered specifically to tailor the degradation profile of the underlying substrate. Optionally, a trigger mechanism can be used to further control and/or modify the degradation behavior of the substrate.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of producing a liquid-impregnated surface includes forming a solid particle suspension including a plurality of solid particles with an average dimension of between about 5 nm and about 200 ?m. The solid particle suspension is applied to a surface by spray-depositing the solid particle suspension onto the surface. An impregnating liquid is also applied to the surface. The plurality of solid particles and the impregnating liquid collectively form a liquid-impregnated surface. The impregnating liquid can be applied after the solid particle suspension is applied, or the solid particle suspension can include the impregnating liquid, such that the solid particle suspension and the impregnating liquid are concurrently spray-deposited onto the surface.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to devices, systems and methods for producing liquid impregnated surfaces with enhanced durability. In some embodiments, a liquid-impregnated surface includes a first surface having a first roll off angle. A plurality of solid features are disposed on the first surface, such that a plurality of interstitial regions are defined between the plurality of solid features. An impregnating liquid is disposed in the interstitial regions. Furthermore, the interstitial regions are dimension and configured such that that the surface remains impregnated by the impregnating liquid. The impregnating liquid disposed in the interstitial regions defines a second surface which has a second roll off angle less than the first roll off angle. The apparatus also includes a liquid delivery mechanism configured to transfer the impregnating liquid to the interstitial regions.

Abstract: There is set forth herein a method for providing a nanoparticle array. A nanoparticle network can be provided by nanoparticles combined with surfactant micelle chains. The nanoparticle network can be provided by distributing metal nanoparticles in a surfactant solution and agitating the surfactant solution comprising the nanoparticles to form a gel comprising the nanoparticle network which can be characterized by a distributed array of nanoparticles combined with surfactant micelle chains within a fluid. The gel can comprise a fluid in a continuous phase and the nanoparticles in a discontinuous phase. Apparatus having arrays of nanoparticles are also set forth herein.