Water phase changes (evaporation, condensation, freezing) are ubiquitous phenomena of great importance for living beings and in engineering applications. The structure (micro and nano) and chemistry of surfaces control the kinetics and dynamics of these transitions. Plants, for example, offer numerous examples of self-cleaning, antifreeze and water-collecting1 properties developed over millions of years of evolution. Engineered anti-frosting surfaces find applications in aerospace (ice accretion on aircrafts), heat exchangers (refrigerators), wind turbines and power lines. Structured surfaces that increase evaporation and condensation efficiency are a challenge for Loop Heat Pipes (LHP) and Vapour Chambers that cool electronics on space stations (in microgravity conditions) or in the electronic devices we use on a daily basis. Surfaces that can efficiently collect dew and fog provide a source of water in arid environments and can improve the water recovery system of space stations. This project will extend the studies carried out during the previous PhD scholarship (within cycle 34, in collaboration with FBK) which focused on anti-frosting and water-harvesting surfaces. The research activity will concern the theoretical study, fabrication, characterisation and experimentation of micro- and nanostructured surfaces with applications in aerospace and energy efficiency. In particular, phenomena of spontaneous jumps of condensation droplets on hydrophobic surfaces, distant coalescence on hydrophilic surfaces and freezing of droplets will be studied. Fabrication techniques may range from micro- and nanolithography, focused io beam, etching, chemical deposition processes, and polymer moulding. The expected outputs are patents and publications on high impact journals in the field.