Bioinspired Honeycomb-Armored Photothermal Superhydrophobic Surface With Robust Mechanical Durability for Efficient Anti-/De-Icing

Photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces have emerged as promising candidates for anti-/de-icing applications; however, their further application is limited by the mechanical fragility of micro/nanostructures and the reliance on hazardous fluorinated additives. Inspired by the mechanical robustness of natural honeycombs and the superhydrophobic mechanism of lotus leaves, a mechanically durable and fluorine-free honeycomb-armored micro-/nanostructured photothermal superhydrophobic surface (HAMSE) is fabricated. The surface was constructed by laser-etching honeycomb micro-arrays on an Al substrate, followed by the spray coating of a hydrophobic SiO₂/ hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (OH-MWCNTs) /epoxy resin composite. The as-prepared HAMSE achieved a freezing delay time of 1207.6 ± 135.7 s at -10°C and de-icing within 83.01 ± 12.04 s under 1 sun illumination. Benefiting from the mechanical protection by the honeycomb armor, the surface maintained its superhydrophobicity after undergoing 100 m of sandpaper abrasion. Even after superhydrophobicity was lost at 140 m of abrasion, the surface retained 68.68% of its original steady-state temperature rise under illumination. Overall, this durability stems from the structural-material synergy, where the honeycomb armor sacrifices its own top structure to resist wear while the cross-linked epoxy network preserves photothermal functionality. This work provides a viable strategy for designing durable, fluorine-free, solar-driven anti-/de-icing surfaces.