Robust\nAll-Day Frostphobic Surfaces

The\napplication of solar-thermal surfaces for antifrosting and\ndefrosting has emerged as a passive and environmentally friendly approach\nto mitigate the negative consequences of frost formation, such as\nstructural damage and reduced heat transfer efficiency. However, achieving\nrobust all-day frostphobicity solely through interfacial modification\nand solar-thermal effects is challenging in practical applications:\nThe thick frost that accumulates at night strongly scatters solar\nradiation, rendering the solar-thermal coatings ineffective during\nthe daytime. Additionally, these nanostructured coatings are susceptible\nto wear and tear when exposed to the outdoors for extended periods\nof time. To address these challenges, we present an innovative frostphobic\nsurface that incorporates V-grooved structures with superhydrophobic\nsolar-thermal layers (VSSs). The out-of-plane gradient structures\nfacilitate spatially regulated vapor diffusion, an enhanced photothermal\neffect, and robust water repellency. These features not only prevent\nfrost from covering the entire surface overnight, enabling effective\nsolar-thermal defrosting during the daytime, but also protect the\nsurface from deterioration. The combined merits ensure robust all-day\nfrostphobicity and exceptional durability, making the VSS surface\npromising for practical applications and extending the lifespan in\nextreme environments.