Enhancing Tribological Performance and Wettability of Snakeskin-Inspired Surfaces via PDLLA Nanosheets

Abstract

This study explores integrating snakeskin-inspired microstructures into PDLLA nanosheets to enhance tribological properties and wettability for biomedical and hydropower turbine applications. Thinner PDLLA coatings (50 nm) led to increased surface energy, resulting in drastically improved wettability (reducing the water contact angle from 115.3° to 48.0°) and a 15–20% reduction in friction, which is beneficial for fluid interaction by potentially reducing drag. Consistent with M. D. Ibrahim et al., these bioinspired surfaces showed enhanced frictional properties, suggesting a promising pathway for improving energy efficiency in turbine applications. Future work should focus on refining replication techniques and assessing biological stability.