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Fabrication, Operation and Flow Visualization in Surface-acoustic-wave-driven Acoustic-counterflow Microfluidics
Published on: August 27, 2013
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Acoustic Wave-Powered Durable Icephobic Duplex Coating Design with Superior Deicing Performance
Jaime Del Moral1, Luke Haworth2, Laura Montes1
1Nanotechnology on Surfaces and Plasma Lab. Materials Science Institute of Seville, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC - Univ. Sevilla), Americo Vespucio 49, 41092 Sevilla, Spain.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|January 30, 2026
Summary
A new diamond-like carbon and CFx bilayer coating enhances the stability and deicing capabilities of ZnO surface acoustic wave devices. This advanced coating offers reliable ice removal for critical applications in aeronautics and wind turbines.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Engineering
- Acoustics
Background:
- Surface acoustic wave (SAW) deicing offers energy-efficient ice removal.
- ZnO thin films used in SAW devices suffer from poor stability and wetting properties.
- Existing anti-icing coatings may not adequately protect SAW devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a stable and effective anti-icing and protective coating for ZnO SAW devices.
- To investigate a diamond-like carbon (DLC) and CFx bilayer (DLC-CFx) coating.
- To assess the deicing performance and long-term stability of the DLC-CFx coated devices.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of ZnO SAW devices on aluminum substrates with a DLC-CFx bilayer coating.
- Characterization of the coating's anti-icing and protective properties.
- Evaluation of SAW transmission and deicing efficiency in laboratory and icing wind tunnel tests.
Main Results:
- The DLC-CFx coating effectively protected ZnO surfaces, maintaining SAW transmission.
- The hydrophobic duplex coating outperformed single fluorinated polymer layers.
- Efficient deicing was achieved through interfacial ice melting and rapid sliding detachment.
- The aluminum substrate contributed to deicing via rapid heat transmission.
Conclusions:
- The DLC-CFx bilayer coating provides a stable and effective solution for anti-icing and protecting ZnO SAW devices.
- Room temperature plasma-assisted deposition ensures reliability in harsh outdoor conditions.
- This technology is promising for ice-exposed applications in aeronautics and wind turbines.
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