Bioinspired Photothermal Superhydrophobic Surfaces Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser-MXene Synergy for Anti-Icing/Deicing

Photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces have emerged as a promising strategy for enhancing the anti/deicing performance of engineering surfaces, capitalizing on their exceptional water repellency and photothermal conversion capabilities. Nevertheless, the practical implementation of such surfaces in real industrial applications has been severely constrained by their inadequate mechanical durability. To address this challenge, this work proposed a universal strategy for constructing robust photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces applicable to different substrates. This construction strategy combines femtosecond laser-induced biomimetic armor structures with OTS-functionalized Ti3C2 MXene composite coatings. The resultant armor-reinforced photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces demonstrate remarkable superhydrophobicity (water contact angle = 158°) and ultralow ice adhesion (7.28 kPa), combined with exceptional icing delay performance (87 s freezing time for droplets at −35 °C) and efficient photothermal deicing (19 s ice melting duration under 1 sun irradiation). Besides, the biomimetic armor structures endow the surface with outstanding durability, maintaining superior anti-icing and deicing functionality through 200 rigorous abrasion cycles. This work provides a viable pathway for developing mechanically robust photothermal superhydrophobic systems in practical anti-icing applications.