Metal-Based Slippery Surfaces with Micro-Channel Network Structures for Enhanced Anti-Icing and Antifouling Performance

In response to the significant challenges posed by ice accumulation and contamination from various fluids in complex operating conditions for metallic materials, this study utilises picosecond laser precision machining to develop a ‘slippery surface’ featuring a micro-channel network structure. The core innovation of this study lies in the use of laser-machined micrometre-scale array textures to overcome the limitations of traditional isolated pores. These globally interconnected micro-channels serve as highly efficient reservoirs and dynamic transport channels for lubricants, significantly enhancing the interfacial capillary locking force of the lubricant. Experimental results demonstrate that this unique network geometry endows the surface with exceptional fluid replenishment and self-healing properties, enabling it to exhibit outstanding broad-spectrum hydrophobicity towards various fluids—including water, crude oil and ethanol (surface tension range: 17.9–72.0 mN m−1)—with sliding angles consistently below 12°, whilst effectively slowing the dehydration and solidification processes of biological fluids. At a low temperature of −15 °C, the surface achieved an ice formation delay of up to 286 s, with an ice adhesion strength of only 33.9 kPa, ensuring that accumulated ice could be spontaneously detached under minimal external force. Furthermore, the micro-channel network structure serves as a key protective mechanism against mechanical wear, maintaining robust slippery properties even after three hours of high-pressure water jet scouring (Weber number of 300). This reliable interface, achieved through structural management, provides an efficient and scalable platform for addressing the all-weather anti-icing and antifouling requirements of outdoor infrastructure.