Made of Light: Slippery 3D Surfaces That Control Liquids with Ease

The research team led by Prof. Seok Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Yonsei University, in collaboration with Professor Young Tae Cho and his team at Changwon National University, have developed a three-dimensional slippery surface that dramatically reduces the adhesion of materials using light. This achievement marks the world’s first realization of a lubricant-infused slippery surface inspired by natural examples such as lotus leaves and pitcher plants in a 3D structure. By combining digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing with photo-curable chemical bonding techniques, the team successfully fabricated 3D surfaces where various liquids, including water, oil, serum, and even honey, flow with almost no resistance, and ice detaches easily. They further demonstrated a microfluidic SlipChip, where droplets autonomously move and mix without external energy input, suggesting promising applications in bio-diagnostic and drug-testing platforms. This study was conducted through international collaboration with Harvard Medical School, MIT, and the University of Hong Kong, and was published in Nature Communications (IF 15.7, Top 7% in Multidisciplinary Sciences) on October 10, 2025. Furthermore, the research was featured as a Research Highlight in Nature Reviews Materials (IF 87.1, Top 0.1% in Multidisciplinary Sciences), recognizing its scientific excellence.

The link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64078-7