We report a simple and rapid method to fabricate superhydrophobic films on copper substrates via Fe3+ etching and octadecanethiol (ODT) modification. The etching process can be as short as 5 min and the ODT treatment only takes several seconds. In addition, the whole process is quite flexible in reaction time. The superhydrophobicity of as-prepared surfaces is mechanically durable and chemically stable, which have great performance in oil-water separation and ice-over resistance. (C) Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.