Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs): a perfect solution to both marine fouling and corrosion?

Abstract

Marine corrosion and biofouling are the biggest challenges to the security of marine engineering equipment and offshore structures. Slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs), emerging bio-inspired surfaces which have attracted widespread research interest over the past few years, have great potential in corrosion protection and biofouling prevention. It is valuable to summarize the most recent progress as well as to frame further opportunities in this field. In the current review, we have outlined the state-of-the-art fabrication strategies and applications of SLIPSs in anti-corrosion and anti-fouling coatings. Both lubricant-infused structured surfaces and oil-impregnated gels are discussed and compared in the fundamental section, and in the following sections their protection principles and performance in corrosion protection and biofouling prevention are presented separately. Finally, some critical unsolved challenges, as well as the research foci in the future, are proposed in the perspective section.