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  • Open Access

Enhanced slipperiness through rapid drop motion on liquid-infused surfaces

Kun Li1, Xi-Qiao Feng1,2,3, and Cunjing Lv1,2,3,*

  • 1Institute of Biomechanics and Medical Engineering, AML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • 2Center for Nano and Micro Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
  • 3State Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

  • *Contact author: cunjinglv@tsinghua.edu.cn
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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 013269 – Published 10 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3hw1-82w5

Abstract

Introducing a lubricant layer between a fluid and a solid substrate endows slippery liquid-infused surfaces (SLISs) with excellent interfacial properties, such as a low sliding angle, repellency toward various liquids, icephobicity, and self-healing capability. Previous studies found that the friction force of a sliding drop on SLISs obeys the Landau-Levich-Derjaguin (LLD) theory, i.e., Fη∼Ca2/3, with Ca being the capillary number. In this paper, however, our experiments show that this scaling law holds only at low capillary numbers. We find a distinct decrease in the scaling exponent as the drop accelerates: In the rapid sliding regime, SLISs demonstrate even greater slipperiness than that predicted by the LLD theory. Numerical simulations reveal that this unexpected behavior originates from the incompletely developed state of the back meniscus, while the influence of the front meniscus is insignificant. Compared with the prediction of the Bretherton model, the back meniscus possesses a shorter shear length and a thicker shear layer, therefore reducing friction and enhancing surface slipperiness. An analytical solution is derived to describe the incompletely developed meniscus. This work offers insights into the abnormal frictional behavior when the capillary number of a moving drop exceeds 4×10−3.

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Outline

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Phys. Rev. Research 8, 013269– Published 10 March, 2026
  • Received 8 January 2024
  • Accepted 22 January 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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