Bioinspired fabrication of micro–nano hierarchical superhydrophobic surfaces on CFRP via femtosecond laser processing

To improve the service stability of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) in water environments, corrosive media, and contaminated conditions, this study takes Chenopodium album leaves as a biomimetic prototype and fabricates a biomimetic superhydrophobic surface via h-BN/epoxy spraying, femtosecond laser structuring, and FDTS vapor deposition, constructing a micro–nano hierarchical structure with low surface energy. After orthogonal optimization, the surface exhibits a water contact angle of 160.28° ± 1.5° and a sliding angle of 4.6° ± 1.3°. The surface maintains good wetting stability under temperature variation, acidic/alkaline environments, and mechanical abrasion, while showing low droplet adhesion and excellent self-cleaning ability. Compared with pristine CFRP, the surface exhibits significantly improved wear resistance and corrosion resistance, with the corrosion current density reduced to 23.3% and the polarization resistance increased by approximately 10.9 times. Meanwhile, the fabrication process causes no obvious damage to the substrate, indicating enhanced durability and long-term service potential. The performance improvement is mainly attributed to the superhydrophobic surface synergistically constructed by micro–nano structures and FDTS-induced low surface energy modification.