A device for isolating a microbe or a virion includes a semiconductor substrate; and a trench formed in the semiconductor substrate and extending from a surface of the semiconductor substrate to a region within the semiconductor substrate; wherein the trench has dimensions such that the microbe or the virion is trapped within the trench.

A liquid-repellent plastic molded body 1 according to the present invention has a liquid-repellent surface. The liquid-repellent surface has a re-entrant structure surface formed by an array of pillars 20 each having a head portion 20a with an enlarged diameter. At least a part of the re-entrant structure surface has a fluorine-containing surface in which fluorine atoms are distributed.

A method is provided for creating a porous coating on a surface of a substrate by electrodeposition. The substrate is a part of the cathode. An anode is also provided. A coating is deposited or disposed on the surface by applying a voltage that creates a plurality of porous structures on the surface to be coated. Continuing to apply a voltage creates additional porosity and causes portions of the attached porous structures to detach. A covering layer is created by applying a voltage that creates a thin layer that covers the attached porous structures and the detached portions which binds the porous structures and detached portions together.

The present invention relates to a structure for preventing the adhesion of microorganisms, which is capable of preventing microorganisms from adhering to and growing on a surface of an object, and a method of manufacturing the same. The structure for preventing the adhesion of microorganisms includes: a nano-structure configured to include a plurality of protruding structures each having a sharp end and made of a resin composition; and a plurality of nano-metal particles configured to be distributed inside the nano-structure. A method of manufacturing a structure for preventing adhesion of microorganisms includes preparing a liquid resin; mixing the liquid resin with nano-metal particles; depositing the liquid resin on a substrate; pressing the liquid resin with a master template on which a pattern corresponding to a plurality of protruding structures is formed; and setting or curing the liquid resin.

The present disclosure describes a strategy to create self-healing, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces. Roughened (e.g., porous) surfaces can be utilized to lock in place a lubricating fluid, referred to herein as Liquid B to repel a wide range of materials, referred to herein as Object A (Solid A or Liquid A). Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces outperforms other conventional surfaces in its capability to repel various simple and complex liquids (water, hydrocarbons, crude oil and blood), maintain low-contact-angle hysteresis (<2.5°), quickly restore liquid-repellency after physical damage (within 0.1-1 s), resist ice, microorganisms and insects adhesion, and function at high pressures (up to at least 690 atm). Some exemplary application where slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces will be useful include energy-efficient fluid handling and transportation, optical sensing, medicine, and as self-cleaning, and anti-fouling materials operating in extreme environments.

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<ϕ≤0.25, where ϕ is a representative fraction of the projected surface area of the liquid-impregnated surface corresponding to non-submerged solid at equilibrium; and (ii) S.sub.ow(a)<0, where S.sub.ow(a) is spreading coefficient, defined as γ.sub.wa−γ.sub.wo−γ.sub.oa, where γ 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.

Surface structured articles comprising a polymer matrix and a dispersed phase, the article having first and second opposed major surfaces, at least a portion of the first major surface is a microstructured, anisotropic surface comprises features having at least one dimension in a range from 1 micrometer to 500 micrometers, wherein the dispersed phase comprises an antimicrobial material, and wherein at least a portion of the dispersed phase is present on the microstructured, anisotropic surface. Surface structured articles are useful, for example, for marine applications (e.g., surfaces in contact with water (e.g., fresh water, ocean water)) such as boats, ships, piers, oil rigs, decks, and roofing materials.

A variety of polyoxyalkylene coupled zwitterionic moieties are provided as well as surface active reactive polymers containing the polyoxyalkylene coupled zwitterionic moieties. When incorporated in coating systems, such surface active polymers show strong propensity to stratify during curing. The zwitterionic groups presented at the end of polyalkylene oxide chains can allow for effective exposure of the zwitterionic groups at the coating/water interface as the polyoxyalkylene side chains of the said SAP can further extend (to its radius of gyration) into the water phase. Additional features of the polyoxyalkylene coupled zwitterionic moieties can include a reactive end group (R) to allow covalent attachment of the moiety to a surface, a particle, a small molecule, or a polymer. Coating compositions and coated articles containing the polyoxyalkylene coupled zwitterionic moieties are also provided.

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.

The disclosure relates to a method of applying a coating to an external surface of a man-made object to be at least partly immersed in water (e.g. a vessel or an offshore drilling station) for a time period wherein there is relative movement between the immersed object and the water. The applied coating has a minimal resistance rating for a set of coatings. The method comprises a computer-implemented coating selection process, which comprises a first steps of obtaining, for each coating in the set of coatings, a total roughness value of the external surface based on a fouling roughness value, a macro roughness value and a micro roughness value associated with each coating. The coating selection process comprises in a second step selecting a coating from the set of coatings, wherein the selected coating has a minimal resistance rating associated with the obtained total roughness value for the time period. The method further comprises applying the selected coating to the external surface of the man-made object.