Flexible and scalable photothermal/electro thermal anti-icing/de-icing metamaterials for effective large-scale preparation

• Published in: iScience 2024-11, Vol.27 (11), p.111086, Article 111086
• Main Authors: Lu, Tonghui, Li, Xianglin, Lu, Mengying, Lv, Wenhao, Liu, Wenzhuo, Dong, Xuanchen, Liu, Zhe, Xie, Shangzhen, Lv, Song
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Materials property; Materials science; Metamaterials
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111086

Anti-icing and de-icing are vital for infrastructure maintenance. While carbon-based materials with photothermal or electrothermal effects have advanced, they face challenges like environmental dependence, poor resistance, high energy consumption, and complex manufacturing. Here, we developed a scalable, hybrid metamaterial driven by photothermal/electrothermal for all-weather anti-icing/de-icing. Its nanostructured surface delays icing by 360 s at −30°C, breaking records across a wide temperature range. The porous structure enhances light absorption, achieving a delayed icing time of 2500 s at −20°C under one sunlight. The graphene film’s high conductivity allows rapid de-icing with 1.6W power. After 720 h of outdoor exposure, the metamaterial retained a contact angle above 150°, confirming durability. More critically, we have demonstrated that the metamaterial can be manufactured on a large scale, which is essential for improving the economics of the anti-icing/de-icing sector. [Display omitted] •This multifunctional superhydrophobic coating is low-cost, easy to produce, and scalable•The superhydrophobic coating delays icing significantly, achieving a 2500s delay at −20°C•The superhydrophobic coating has good electrothermal properties for fast de-icing at 1.6W•The superhydrophobic coating has excellent mechanical durability Materials science; Materials property; Metamaterials