Figure 1.

Re-examining the roots of super liquid repellency: surface-enhanced dewettability. (a) Increase in grafting density via self-condensation functionalization, leading to the network formation of fluoro-silica shells around nanoparticles. Covalent: near-stoichiometric but low-density attachment of fluoroalkylsilanes. Network: stochastic but high-density poly-formation of fluoro-silica networks. F and H atoms are not illustrated for conciseness. Low (covalent) and high (network) grafting density based nanoparticulate surfaces exhibiting tunable super liquid repellency. (b) Equivalent Cassie–Baxter-based super-hydrophobic-to-superamphiphobic properties with surface chemistry-tunable enhancements even against low-surface-tension (left to right). Magnification of the local interfaces as proposed in panel c. (c) Schematic proposing the use of densified fluoroalkyl layers (right) vs thin fluoroalkyl layers (left) in preventing contact line advancement at the nanoscopic level by low-surface-tension oils.