Abstract
Bio-inspired surfaces with wettability patterns display a unique ability for liquid manipulations. Sacrificing anti-wetting property for confining liquids irrespective of their surface tension (γ(LV)), remains a widely accepted basis for developing wettability patterns. In contrast, we introduce a 'liquid-specific' wettability pattern through selectively sacrificing the slippery property against only low γ(LV) (<30 mN m(-1)) liquids. This design includes a chemically reactive crystalline network of phase-transitioning polymer, which displays an effortless sliding of both low and high γ(LV) liquids. Upon its strategic chemical modification, droplets of low γ(LV) liquids fail to slide, rather spill arbitrarily on the tilted interface. In contrast, droplets of high γ(LV) liquids continue to slide on the same modified interface. Interestingly, the phase-transition driven rearrangement of crystalline network allows to revert the slippery property against low γ(LV) liquids. Here, we report a 'rewritable' and 'liquid-specific' wettability pattern for high throughput screening, separating, and remoulding non-aqueous liquids.