ABSTRACT Superhydrophobic surfaces integrating both photothermal and electrothermal effects are regarded as one of the most promising approaches for all‐weather anti‐/de‐icing. However, their practical application is still hindered by two major challenges: the instability of the air layer and excessive energy consumption. Inspired by the densely curved/coiled morphology of Antarctic lichens, a multilayer semi‐enclosed air cavity structure was constructed. This structure forms a stable air‐based thermal insulation layer, which reduces ice adhesion and markedly prolongs the icing delay time. At −20°C, the icing delay time reaches 3578 ± 120.10 s. In addition, Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) effectively enhance the photothermal conversion performance, while the incorporation of ZIF‐MXene facilitates charge transport and broadens light absorption. At −20°C and 60% Relative Humidity (RH), the surface temperature rapidly increased to 29.2 ± 1.40°C under 1 sun irradiation (photothermal), to 117.4 ± 3.67°C under an applied voltage of 8 V (electrothermal), and to 139 ± 3.80°C (photothermal + electrothermal). These results demonstrate that this biomimetic composite coating possesses both highly efficient photothermal and electrothermal de‐icing capabilities in low‐temperature environments. This work offers a novel approach for designing highly efficient, multifunctional anti‐/de‐icing surfaces.
Bian et al. (2026) studied this question.