Designing a slippery/superaerophobic hierarchical open channel for reliable and versatile underwater gas delivery

Abstract

Achieving long-term and stable gas manipulation in an aqueous environment is necessary to improve multiphase systems relating to gas/liquid interaction. Inspired by the Pitcher plant and the hummingbird beak, we report a slippery/superaerophobic (SLSO) hierarchical fluid channel for continuous, durable, and flexible gas transport. The immiscible lubricant layer inside the SLSO channel promotes one-year stability of gas transport, and the maximum flux of this open channel can reach 3000 mL h⁻¹. Further integration of a CO₂ capturing microchip demonstrates the availability and potential of this gas-manipulating interface, which should provide a valuable platform to develop advanced materials and devices.