Host-guest self-assembly grafts into silica sub-surface for shear-stable interfaces
writer:Yizhe Liu, Yang Wu,* Zishuai Wu,Keling Hu, Meirong Cai, Xiaowei Pei, Wenbo Sheng,* and Feng Zhou*
keywords:Aqueous lubrication, Interfacial friction
source:期刊
specific source:Cell Reports Physical Science
Issue time:2024年
Aqueous lubrication materials are important in biological systems, but mimicking their properties outside of biological systems is challenging. Here, driven by obtaining shear-stable interfaces that mimic the articular cartilage, a ‘‘grafting-into’’ strategy is developed that allows host-guest self-assembly chemistry going deep into the sub-surface. Adamantane-terminal hydrophilic polymers can recognize β-cyclodextrins (CDs) embedded in silica sol network films through host-guest interaction and thus graft into the sub-surface. The introduction of the silica sol layer results in the promotion of surface load-bearing capacity by 300% while maintaining an ultra-low friction coefficient (≈0.006) and robust anti-fogging/antialgae performances due to surface super-hydrophilicity. Based on noncovalent host-guest interactions, these characteristic functions can be recovered once the surface is worn. In addition, the method is universal and can realize photo-controllable reversible friction with an azobenzene-terminal hydrophilic polymer. This work presents an approach to prepare high-bearing supramolecular aqueous lubrication materials.