Engineering Slippery Surfaces

Slippery surfaces are characterized by their ability to minimize contact line pinning, with performance governed not by large apparent contact angles but by low contact angle hysteresis. This review outlines the physical principles governing slipperiness and the mechanisms of contact angle hysteresis, followed by discussing three major engineering strategies: superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces, liquid-infused surfaces, and covalently attached liquid-like coatings. Representative applications are highlighted to illustrate their functional versatility. The review concludes by discussing the outstanding challenges of translating these technologies into practical applications and identifying open questions in interfacial engineering and materials design that will guide the next generation of slippery surface technologies.