Ultrathin Lubricant-Infused Vertical Graphene Nanoscaffolds for High-Performance Dropwise Condensation

Lubricant-infused surfaces (LIS) are highly efficient in repelling water and constitute a very promising family of materials for condensation processes occurring broad range energy applications. However, the performance LIS such is limited by inherent thermal resistance imposed thickness lubricant supporting surface structure, as well gradual depletion over time. Here, we present an ultrathin (∼70 nm) conductive architecture, obtained infusing into vertically grown graphene nanoscaffold on copper. The nature scaffold, combined with high in-plane conductivity graphene, drastically minimize earlier limitations, effectively doubling heat transfer compared to state-of-the-art CuO surface. We show that effect surface, although often overlooked, can be so detrimental simple nanostructured outperform despite filmwise former. vertical also found resistant depletion, maintaining stable dropwise at least 24 h no significant change advancing contact angle hysteresis. consumed 52.6% less than existing LIS, making fabrication process more economical.