A Transparent Photothermal-Enhanced Self-Lubricating Coating with Durable Icephobicity

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Ice accumulation on surfaces poses challenges in various applications, including transportation and energy.
• Developing effective anti-icing and de-icing strategies is crucial for operational efficiency and safety.
• Transparent and durable ice-repellent coatings are highly desirable for applications requiring optical clarity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a transparent coating with durable icephobic properties using MXene and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
• To investigate the influence of MXene layers (n) and PDMS-silicone oil (SO) thickness on coating performance.
• To evaluate the photothermal and ice adhesion characteristics of the fabricated composite coating.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of transparent multilayer MXene films using the layer-by-layer technique.
• Deposition of a cross-linked PDMS containing silicone oil onto the MXene underlayer to create a slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS).
• Characterization of optical transmittance, photothermal conversion, and ice adhesion strength under varying conditions.

Main Results:

• The 3MXene-PDMS-SO composite coating (200 μm thickness) showed 80% transmittance at 550 nm.
• Under 1 sun illumination at -20 °C, the coating increased surface temperature by 7.4 °C, delaying ice formation.
• The coating demonstrated durable icephobicity, maintaining low ice adhesion strength (∼30 kPa) after 100 icing/deicing cycles.

Conclusions:

• The developed transparent MXene-PDMS-SO coating exhibits excellent icephobicity and photothermal properties.
• The composite coating effectively prevents and facilitates the removal of ice, showcasing significant potential for anti-icing applications.
• The durable nature of the coating ensures long-term performance in cold environments, highlighting its practical applicability.