Now, stain-proof surfaces that repel most liquids

Scientists led by an Indian-origin researcher have developed new stain-proof surfaces that shrug off virtually every liquid from blood and ketchup to concentrated acids.

The development of these new "superomniphobic" surfaces will pave way for stain-proof, spill-proof clothing and protective garments, scientists believe.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, researcher Anish Tuteja and colleagues pointed out that scientists have previously reported "omniphobic" surfaces, the term meaning that such surfaces can cause a range of different liquids to bead up and not spread on them.

But typically very low surface tension liquids such as some oils and alcohols can adhere to those surfaces.

Further, scientists have mostly focused on making surfaces that repel only one of the two families of liquids