Molecular dynamics simulations reveal how molecular ordering reduces friction in soft interfaces, indicating a new engineering approach.
to ∼1.9 nm and reduces friction by additional 60%. Molecular dynamics simulations attribute this "sticky-slippery" synergy to molecular ordering and homogenization, which reorganize interfacial water molecules into a well-defined depletion layer that strengthens hydrophobic interaction; simultaneously, coherent chain tilting and reorientation during bubble sliding preserve chain order and packing density, minimizing contact line pinning and energy dissipation. These findings unveil a universal molecular mechanism that reconciles bubble affinity with ultralow friction, establishing a general framework for engineering adaptive soft interfaces with programmable wetting, adhesion, and interfacial transport properties.
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Zhang et al. (2026) studied this question.
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