The demand for reliable and sustainable infrastructure necessitates a fundamental shift in engineering materials, moving beyond incremental improvements toward an integrated paradigm combining intrinsic performance enhancement, functional adaptability, and intelligent design. In this perspective, we highlight the key opportunities and challenges of advanced cement-based engineering materials, focusing on high strength-toughness, long-service-life, frontier engineering materials, and intelligent design. These interdependent areas collectively pave the way for a new generation of engineering materials capable of withstanding unprecedented service conditions while substantially reducing environ... More >

Superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS), characterized by low surface energy and minimal adhesion to liquids, have attracted extensive attention for applications such as self-cleaning, waterproofing, dust resistance, and corrosion protection. Beyond these traditional functions, the de-icing and anti-icing capabilities of SHS have recently garnered significant interest due to their inherent passive ice-shedding behavior. However, a comprehensive, mechanistic understanding of icing phenomena on SHS, along with effective strategies for improving ice-phobic performance, remains inadequately established. This review presents a systematic evaluation of passive and hybrid active–passive anti-icing and de... More >