Lubricating organogels with ultralow interfacial friction are highly attractive, yet the high solvent content typically markedly compromises their mechanical performance, severely limiting practical applicability. To address this challenge, we propose a crystallization-reinforced strategy to simultaneously achieve high strength and durable lubricating surfaces. Specifically, a double-network lubricating organogel (PCHA-EVA) is fabricated by integrating a solvent-affine poly(2-cyclohexyl acrylate) (PCHA) network with a semicrystalline ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) network, swollen in a polydimethylsiloxane oil lubricating agent. Structural characterizations reveal a bicontinuous phase-separated morphology, in which the crystalline polymer forms a continuous load-bearing phase that effectively improves energy dissipation and fracture resistance. Consequently, the organogel exhibits striking reinforcement, with mechanical properties approximately two orders of magnitude higher than its single-network counterpart, achieving a Young’s modulus of 7.81 MPa, fracture strength of 10.2 MPa, and toughness of 29.4 MJ m -3 . Moreover, owing to the temperature-sensitive crystallinity, the organogel displays pronounced thermo-softening, enabling rapid self-recovery and programmable shape memory. Furthermore, the lubricating surface confers excellent interfacial functionalities, including efficient droplet manipulation, ultralow ice adhesion, delayed frosting, and superior antifouling performance. The crystallization-reinforced strategy presented here effectively balances mechanical robustness and lubrication performance, offering a versatile and scalable approach to high-performance lubricating materials for diverse applications. • A crystallization-reinforced strategy is first proposed in slippery organogels. • The organogels achieve both high toughness and durable lubrication. • The organogels displays pronounced thermo-softening, enabling programmable shape memory. • The organogels show versatile potentials in droplet manipulation, anti-icing, and anti-fouling.
Feng et al. (Fri,) studied this question.