Superomniphobic Surfaces with Improved Mechanical Durability: Synergy of Hierarchical Texture and Mechanical Interlocking

Due to their unique functionality, superomniphobic surfaces that display extreme repellency toward virtually any liquid, have a wide range of potential applications. However, to date, the mechanical durability of superomniphobic surfaces remains a major obstacle that prevents their practical deployment. In this work, a two-layer design strategy is developed to fabricate superomniphobic surfaces with improved durability via synergistic effect of interconnected hierarchical porous texture and micro/nanomechanical interlocking. The improved mechanical robustness of these surfaces is assessed through water shear test, ultrasonic washing test, blade scratching test, and Taber abrasion test.