Research led by a group from the University of Newcastle has found a new way to make silicone surfaces—and control how slippery they are. The work was published in the journal Chemistry of Materials.

Most of us have silicone in our homes, especially in the kitchen, where it is often found as a rubbery coating that is long-lasting, water-repellent and, crucially, slippery. Scientists have also wanted to make use of it at the nanoscale, where silicone has significant potential to reduce surface friction for use in medical devices and beyond.