Integration of Self-Lubrication and Near-Infrared Photothermogenesis for Excellent Anti-Icing/Deicing Performance

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2015-07, Vol.25 (27), p.4237-4245
• Main Authors: Yin, Xiangyu, Zhang, Yue, Wang, Daoai, Liu, Zhilu, Liu, Yupeng, Pei, Xiaowei, Yu, Bo, Zhou, Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coating; Deicing; Disasters; Economics; Ice accumulation; ice-phobic films; Icing; magnetic nanoparticles; Melting; photothermal; Self lubrication
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201501101

The economic and safety issues caused by ice accretion have become more and more serious. Except for traditional ways of anti‐icing, such as spraying agents, mechanical/thermal removal, etc., more economic approaches are urgently required. This work demonstrates the conceptual feasibility of using a self‐lubricated photothermal coating for both anti‐icing and deicing function. The coating is generally water repellent and infiltrated with hydrocarbon or perfluorocarbon oils as the lubricant to endow a liquid interface for preventing ice accumulation and minimizing the adhesion of ice on surfaces once it is formed. Fe3O4 nanoparticles are added to the film to afford high efficiency photothermal effect under near‐infrared irradiation for rapidly melting the accumulated ice. The conceptual strategy can be easily implemented as a facile method to fabricate analogous sprayed coatings. It represents a major advance to tackle the challenging icing issue that is normally seen as a disaster in everyday life. Self‐lubrication and photothermogenesis are integrated into a coating for excellent anti‐icing and remote deicing application. The frosting and icing process are significantly delayed. Highly efficient photothermogenesis allows rapid melting of ice accumulated on the surface.