Liquid-solid composites with confined interface behaviors

In the evolving landscape of materials science, the journey from traditional composite materials to liquid-solid composites has marked a significant shift. Composite materials, typically solid state, have long been the cornerstone of many applications due to their structural stability and mechanical properties. However, the emergence of liquid-solid composites has introduced a new paradigm, leveraging the dynamic composite interfaces and fluidic nature of liquids. Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of liquid-solid composites, distinguishing themselves by their defect-free, molecularly smooth surfaces and adaptive features. In this review, we introduce liquid-based confined interface materials, which represent a cutting-edge advancement, integrating confined liquids within solid frameworks at mesoscopic scales. Characterized by their confined competitive multiphase interfacial interactions, these materials offer practical functionalities like anti-fouling, multiphase flow control and drag reduction. We summarize the development of the materials, and showcase important applications based on the controllable motions of confined liquids and solid frameworks. We also discuss their design and preparation and address future challenges and outlooks, such as artificial intelligence, in advancing functionalities. The review provides new insights into liquid-solid composites, focusing on their confined interface behaviors, including liquid motion and competitive multiphase interfacial interactions, and offering a pathway for future innovations and performance enhancements in liquid-based confined interface materials.