Fabrication of Metallic Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Tunable Condensate Self-Removal Capability and Excellent Anti-Frosting Performance
Jian-Guo He,
Guan-Lei Zhao,
Shou-Jun Dai,
Ming Li,
Gui-Sheng Zou,
Jian-Jun Wang,
Yang Liu,
Jia-Qi Yu,
Liang-Fei Xu,
Jian-Qiu Li,
Lian-Wen Fan,
Min Huang
Affiliations
Jian-Guo He
Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
Guan-Lei Zhao
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Shou-Jun Dai
Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
Ming Li
State Key Laboratory of Transient Optics and Photonics, Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics of CAS, Xi’an 710119, China
Gui-Sheng Zou
State Key Laboratory of Tribology, Key Laboratory for Advanced Manufacturing by Materials Processing Technology, Ministry of Education of PR China, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Jian-Jun Wang
Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Yang Liu
Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
Jia-Qi Yu
Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
Liang-Fei Xu
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Jian-Qiu Li
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, School of Vehicle and Mobility, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Lian-Wen Fan
Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
Min Huang
Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100094, China
Laser fabrication of metallic superhydrophobic surfaces (SHSs) for anti-frosting has recently attracted considerable attention. Effective anti-frosting SHSs require the efficient removal of condensed microdroplets through self-propelled droplet jumping, which is strongly influenced by the surface morphology. However, detailed analyses of the condensate self-removal capability of laser-structured surfaces are limited, and guidelines for laser processing parameter control for fabricating rationally structured SHSs for anti-frosting have not yet been established. Herein, a series of nanostructured copper-zinc alloy SHSs are facilely constructed through ultrafast laser processing. The surface morphology can be properly tuned by adjusting the laser processing parameters. The relationship between the surface morphologies and condensate self-removal capability is investigated, and a guideline for laser processing parameterization for fabricating optimal anti-frosting SHSs is established. After 120 min of the frosting test, the optimized surface exhibits less than 70% frost coverage because the remarkably enhanced condensate self-removal capability reduces the water accumulation amount and frost propagation speed (<1 μm/s). Additionally, the material adaptability of the proposed technique is validated by extending this methodology to other metals and metal alloys. This study provides valuable and instructive insights into the design and optimization of metallic anti-frosting SHSs by ultrafast laser processing.
