Onion inspired hydrate-phobic surfaces

Hydrate plugging in gas- and oil-production transport systems has long been a critical challenge. Traditional hydrate mitigation strategies through applying chemicals thermal destabilization are costly eco-unfriendly. Passive anti-hydrate surfaces with potential to enable self-removal of hydrates desired. Surprisingly, thin onion film peeled off from an bulb scale is found have low adhesion, thanks the porous structures surface cuticle layer. Subsequently, mimicking bio-properties actual film, hydrate-phobic inspired super adhesion strength fabricated. By engineering abundant pores below smooth surface, dramatically decreases cyclopentane (CyC5) 95 kPa 4.7 kPa. The also maintains (8.7 kPa) after 20 hydrating/de-hydrating cycles. Furthermore, performance this new enhanced by integrating regenerable artificial layer, which enables even lower (2.9 kPa). Therefore, can provide alternative solutions for future mitigation.