Summary (goals and expected results): In general, synthesis of the substrates (porous material) will be done using:

1. Multi-step chemical reaction at elevated temperature (for example zincite nanorods),

2. Anodic etching over intermediate product (for example titania nanotubes),

3. Sol-gel process with chelation-based control of the hydrolysis and polycondensation (for example metal oxide aerogels),

4. Wet-chemistry processing using surfactants as templating agents, or by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) (for example mesoporous silica),

5. Hard templating agents that can be subsequently removed such as flexible polyurethane foam   (FPF), bio-templates, etc (for example microporous alumina),

6. Layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly (for  example core-shell titania)

7. Hydrothermal reaction, where self-organisation occur under specific conditions (for example LDH, or halloysite),

8. Ion-exchange methods that condition the samples to maximise the infiltration capabilities (for example clays),

9. Dissolution–hydratation–osmosis bioinspired growth (for example membrane type tubular silicates),

10.Mechanochemically induced phase formation of samples with desired morphology and composition (for example zeolites),

11.Conventional temperature induced phase formation of samples with desired morphology and composition (for example geopolymers), etc.

This proposal aims to address the liquid-infused solid surfaces. Given the potential impact, creating surfaces with tailored characteristics employing various fabrication techniques is of great interest. Such composites present a radically different approach to creating functional surfaces for various applications, such as slippery, anti-corrosion, moisture-repellent, antibiofilm forming, antimicrobial, and many more surfaces and materials. The materials that will be developed in this project should display more efficient, reliable functionality in comparison to existing state-of-the-art materials. Primarily the link between property and functionality will be clarified.

This project affects a very active area of research, exploring the functionalities of functional surfaces incorporates a broad range of materials (including polymers, nanoparticles, metal ions, lipids, proteins, dye molecules, dendrimers, quantum dots, etc.) using various substrates. Assembling these materials are conducted through electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, coordination interactions, covalent bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. Product assembly can be exercised on a wide range of textured and curved surfaces, where potential applications are very diverse as previously discussed. Examples include drug delivery, sustained release, antimicrobial coatings, self-healing coatings, anti-corrosion coatings, flame-retardant coating, superhydrophobic coatings, omniphobic slippery surfaces, light-emitting diodes, electronically conductive films, electrochemically reversible capsules, electrolytes, proton exchange membranes and direct methanol fuel materials, lithium-ion batteries, organic field-effect transistor, electrochemical capacitors as well as photovoltaic and biosensors.

Finally, the project aims to enhance the infiltration, immersion and infusion processing of favourable porous materials to yield functional behaviour.