Photothermal Active-Deicing Nanocoatings with Long-Term Superhydrophobicity Based on In Situ Amorphous Polymers...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Photothermal superhydrophobic coatings show promise for eco-friendly deicing.
• Challenges exist in developing nanocoatings with mechanical stability, superhydrophobicity, and photothermal performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a robust photothermal superhydrophobic coating (EP&PS-PSC) with enhanced mechanical stability and deicing capabilities.
• To investigate the role of epoxy and polysiloxane in achieving desired surface properties and structural integrity.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of the EP&PS-PSC via phase separation and swelling treatment using epoxy, polysiloxane, and graphene nanosheets.
• Characterization of surface morphology, superhydrophobicity (water contact angle - WCA, water sliding angle - WSA), mechanical stability, and photothermal performance.

Main Results:

• The EP&PS-PSC demonstrated exceptional mechanical stability (100 cycles abrasion) and superhydrophobicity (WCA: 154.9°, WSA: 4.8°).
• Under standard sunlight, the coating achieved a maximum temperature of 59.4 °C within 400 s.
• The combination of hydrophilic epoxy and hydrophobic polysiloxane facilitated micro-/nanostructure formation and enhanced interfacial interactions.

Conclusions:

• The developed EP&PS-PSC offers a novel approach for active deicing with improved physicochemical stability and performance.
• This study provides a viable strategy for the mass production and practical application of superhydrophobic coatings in deicing technologies.