In Situ Imaging of Multiphase Bio‐interfaces at the Micro‐/Nanoscale

Abstract The multiphase bio‐interfacial system constituted by biological surfaces and their surrounding environment is usually considered to be an essential clue for exploring the mysterious relationship between surface architecture and function. As a visualizing method to understand these systems, in situ imaging of multiphase interfaces (e.g., air/liquid/solid and oil/water/solid systems) at the micro‐/nanoscale, still remains a huge challenge, as a result of their heterogeneity and complexity. Here, recent progress on real‐space micro‐/nanoscale imaging of multiphase bio‐interfacial systems is reviewed; this includes several techniques and imaging results on bio‐interfaces, such as the lotus leaf, fish scale, living cell's surface, and fresh tissue surface. The results evidently show that interfacial structures have a significant impact on the state of the microscopic multiphase interface, further influencing specific functions. Based on this research, technical innovations, some more complicated multiphase interface systems, and structure–function coupling mechanism are proposed.