A research team from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a thermally-responsive lubricant infused surface (TLIS) that resists mineral scaling under temperature change and water flushing conditions. The study, led by Prof. Jingxin Meng and Shutao Wang, introduces TLIS made of two phase change materials with different melting points, enabling the surface to enter a semi-liquid state that balances structural integrity with easy descaling.
"Lubricant-infused surfaces have been known for their anti-fouling potential, but their practical use is limited by lubricant loss in complex real-world environments," said Prof. Meng. "Our solution employs composite phase change materials to maintain both stability and lubrication under the environments of temperature changes and dynamic water flow."
In testing, the TLIS achieved descaling efficiencies of 91.4% in the first cycle and remained above 85% even after multi-cycles. The material adapts to environmental temperatures: when warmed to 47°C, the TLIS was in semi-solid state, where solid paraffin provides structural support and liquid vaseline forms a slippery interface for scale removal.
This team conducted extensive characterization, including scanning electron microscopy, rheometer, differential thermal scanning and contact angle meter. Quantitative results showed high durability and minimal lubricant loss after repeated use. Theoretical modeling of adhesion work further confirmed the coating’s ability to reduce scale-surface interaction, enabling water flow to shear off deposits efficiently.
Moreover, TLIS demonstrated broad applicability. It suppressed various scale types—CaCO₃, CaSO₄, CaC₂O₄, and MgCO₃—with removal efficiencies exceeding 90%. Its formulation flexibility also allows for substituting CPCMs, including n-alkanes, ionic liquids and fatty acids, to match specific industrial requirements.
"This strategy offers a universal and durable solution to scaling problems in thermal and fluid systems," Meng also said. “We believe it can significantly improve the operational stability of heat exchangers, water treatment equipment, and other fluid-handling surfaces.”
The work emphasizes the importance of material design that responds to environmental stimuli while maintaining functionality—a key for future smart coatings and anti-fouling applications.
Other contributors include Ran Zhao, Wei Chen, Yang Wang, Weizhe Gao, Yingbo Li, Danna Liu, from Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This work was supported by Beijing Natural Science Foundation (JQ23008), National Natural Science Foundation of China (22275203 and 22035008), Beijing Outstanding Young Scientist Program (JWZQ20240102014).
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Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 7,000 articles. In 2024 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2024 IF is 9.0 (8.7, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.
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Thermal-responsive lubricant infused surface based on composite phase change materials for durable and efficient scale resistance
22-Dec-2025