A hierarchical porous membrane achieved by femtosecond laser scribing with water-repellent, highly breathable and photo-thermal ability

We presented a water-repellent, highly breathable and photo-thermal membrane fabricated by the femtosecond laser one-step direct writing technology. • A water-repellent, highly breathable and photo-thermal membrane was achieved. • Such multifunctional membrane was fabricated by femtosecond laser. • The treated membrane showed excellent temperature stability and flushing stability. • This study may provide new insight for preparing multifunctional membranes. The multifunctional membranes play an important role in our daily life as well as in scientific research such as the protective clothing and membrane distillation. Here, a kind of water-repellent, highly breathable and photo-thermal multifunctional membrane was fabricated by femtosecond laser one-step direct writing. The as-prepared membrane exhibited strong repulsive and low adhesion to various liquids (water, tea, milk, coffee and glycerin). Moreover, the membrane also shown good stability in the related tests of surface wettability. In addition, it provided good permeability to both water vapor and ordinary air based on its porous structures. In the comparative test of the photothermal properties with the pristine polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane, it also showed excellent performance of higher absorption rate and rapid temperature rise.