Recent advances in gel materials with special wettability: a review

The special wettable gel material solves the problem that the rigid solid surface with special wettability does not perform well in the face of flexibility requirements to a certain extent. Therefore, the research and development of special wettable gel materials has attracted widespread attention and has shown great application potential in different fields. The purpose of this review is to summarize the research status of gel materials with special wettability and to open up new ideas for scientific research in related fields for readers. Firstly, the evaluation parameters of wettability are introduced, which are mainly divided into static contact angle and dynamic contact angle. Secondly, the characteristics of gel materials with different wettability are introduced from three aspects: superhydrophobic surface, superoleophobic surface and superhydrophilic surface. Thirdly, the research status of special wettability gel materials in oil/water separation, anti-fouling and anti-friction is emphasized. Finally, the shortcomings of the application of special wettable gel materials are summarized and prospects are made. Graphical abstract