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Robust Micro/nano Papilla-Structured Superhydrophobic Surfaces for Efficient Photothermal Anti-/Deicing
Xuemei Chen1, Lu Wang1, Muxing Zhang1
1MIIT Key Laboratory of Thermal Control of Electronic Equipment, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
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Ice accumulation in cold environments poses significant risks to the safety and reliability of outdoor systems, underscoring the need for efficient and passive anti/deicing strategies. In this study, a photothermal superhydrophobic surface (PCB@PAl) featuring lotus leaf-inspired micro/nano papilla structures was fabricated using carbon black (CB) as the photothermal agent. The effects of varying micro-to-nano CB mass ratios on surface wettability (at both room and subzero temperatures), light absorption, and photothermal performance were systematically evaluated. The surface with a 3:2 CB mass ratio (PCB@PAl 3-2) demonstrated the best overall performance, exhibiting excellent photothermal conversion efficiency, extended freezing delay, enhanced anti-icing, and deicing capabilities under 1 sun illumination compared to conventional superhydrophobic surfaces. Durability tests confirmed the retention of superhydrophobicity after 10 icing/deicing cycles and 200 cm of sandpaper abrasion. These results provide valuable guidance for the development of durable, solar-responsive coatings for energy-efficient anti/deicing applications in aerospace, power systems, and cold-region infrastructure.
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