Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been central to non-stick coatings for decades, with Teflon being the most recognizable example. These compounds are valued for their ability to repel water, oil, and grease, but their chemical stability has also made them persistent in the environment. PFAS, especially the longer-chain versions, accumulate in living tissues and have been associated with a range of health and ecological concerns. Despite growing restrictions, the lack of effective alternatives has kept them in wide circulation, from cookware to textiles.
Professor Kevin Golovin (MIE), who heads the Durable Repellent Engineered Advanced Materials (DREAM) Laboratory at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering have now developed a material that could offer similar performance with far less fluorine content. The work, led by Professor Kevin Golovin at the university’s Durable Repellent Engineered Advanced Materials (DREAM) Laboratory, was recently published in Nature Communications. The group focused on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a silicone-based polymer often used in biomedical applications. PDMS is inherently biocompatible and flexible, but it has historically struggled to repel low-surface-tension oils to the same extent as PFAS-based coatings.
Au, S., Gauthier, J. R., Kumral, B., Filleter, T., Mabury, S., & Golovin, K. (2025). Nanoscale fletching of liquid-like polydimethylsiloxane with single perfluorocarbons enables sustainable oil-repellency. Nature Communications, 16(1), 6789. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62119-9
To overcome this limitation, the team introduced a modification method they call “nanoscale fletching.” The approach involves growing PDMS bristles on a surface and then attaching ultrashort PFAS fragments specifically trifluoromethyl groups at their tips. The analogy used by the researchers is that of arrow fletching, where feathers guide flight; here, the fluorinated ends provide the necessary repellent interaction. Advanced surface treatments, including plasma activation, were used to prepare the PDMS for this modification, and characterization techniques such as atomic force microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the structural changes.
Professor Kevin Golovin (MIE) from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering stated,
“While we did use a PFAS molecule in this process, it is the shortest possible one and therefore does not bioaccumulate.”
When tested, the fletched PDMS showed oil-repellent performance comparable to standard PFAS-based coatings. On the grading scale established by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, the material reached level six, which is on par with commercial non-stick surfaces. Importantly, the total fluorine content was far lower than in conventional coatings. Because only single-carbon CF₃ groups are used, rather than longer perfluorinated chains, the likelihood of bioaccumulation is substantially reduced. In oil spray and droplet sliding experiments, the modified surfaces maintained their repellency better than unmodified PDMS, resisting the tendency for oils to spread into films.
Despite these results, the researchers caution that their material is not entirely PFAS-free. The work demonstrates a way to minimize rather than eliminate fluorine use, which means regulatory questions and long-term safety evaluations remain. Laboratory results also cannot fully predict performance under everyday wear conditions such as abrasion, repeated washing, or sustained exposure to high cooking temperatures. Scaling the process for industrial use will require further collaboration with manufacturers, as well as durability and cost assessments.
The implications, however, extend well beyond cookware. Oil-repellent surfaces are used across multiple industries, from rain-resistant fabrics to food packaging. A coating that can achieve the same performance with drastically less fluorine content could help companies adapt to tightening environmental regulations while reducing reliance on long-chain PFAS. The University of Toronto team has indicated an openness to working with industrial partners, and continued research will aim at pushing performance even closer to a truly fluorine-free solution.
The nanoscale fletching approach highlights an important engineering principle: rather than replacing a problematic material wholesale, incremental design changes at the molecular level can achieve most of the benefits while reducing risks. Whether this new coating becomes a practical alternative to Teflon will depend on how it holds up under real-world conditions and whether industry can adopt it at scale. For now, it represents a promising step toward non-stick technologies that balance performance with sustainability.
Adrian graduated with a Masters Degree (1st Class Honours) in Chemical Engineering from Chester University along with Harris. His master’s research aimed to develop a standardadised clean water oxygenation transfer procedure to test bubble diffusers that are currently used in the wastewater industry commercial market. He has also undergone placments in both US and China primarely focused within the R&D department and is an associate member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
