Bio-inspired photothermal superhydrophobic surface with good anti-/de-icing property and durability based on laser texturing

The photothermal superhydrophobic surface has attracted wide attention in the field of anti‐/de-icing due to its energy-saving and environmental protection characteristics. However, its preparation often uses photothermal materials, which means higher costs or cumbersome synthesis steps. In this study, inspired by the structural characteristic and photothermal property of the compound eye of Spodoptera litura, a novel photothermal superhydrophobic surface was prepared by using 1060 aluminum material for high voltage lines as the research object, only through laser texturing and chemical modification with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The surface has a bottomless (>100 μm) hexagonal pit array structure at the micron level, and the surface is covered with a layer of nanoscale particles, promoting multiple reflections of light inside the micro-nano composite structure, effectively improving the photothermal performance of the surface. Meanwhile, the rough structure and low surface energy give the surface a strong superhydrophobic property, which can significantly delay the freezing time of droplets compared with the polished surface. The synergistic effect of the two properties can make the surface's ice blocks melt and slide rapidly. Moreover, after a certain degree of durability test, the surface can still maintain excellent photothermal and superhydrophobic performance. It can be expected that the surface has a wide scope of development in practical applications due to rapid and straightforward preparation, superior anti‐/de-icing property, commendable durability, and environmental sustainability.