Fabrication of hybrid wetting aluminum surfaces with self-refreshing properties and icephobic potentials by simple laser ablation

Ice accumulation may occur on various equipment, leading to poor operational performance. Superhydrophobic surfaces have been proven to be potential candidates for anti-icing applications, but they suffer from functional degradation under extreme conditions. In this study, four hybrid wetting surfaces with different patterns were prepared, including triangle (Surf-T), square (Surf-S), hollow square (Surf-HS), and hollow ring (Surf-HR). The superhydrophobic regions of CNT@PDMS coatings and the superhydrophilic micropatterns of AA7075 were exposed using a simple laser ablation method. The dynamic properties of impinging water droplets on different hybrid wetting patterns of sharp corners were discussed. The results showed that the Surf-S exhibited a shorter detaching time of 18.7 ms and achieved maximum rebound height. At the microscale, the superhydrophilic patterns could accelerate the coalescing process of anchored water droplets, leading to the formation of water-free regions and self-refreshing properties. Moreover, the good photothermal effect of superhydrophobic regions endowed Surf-S with improved de-icing efficiency, resulting in the melting of small ice particles within 10 s. This study proposed a novel strategy for designing and fabricating hybrid wetting surfaces with good icephobic potentials.