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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
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Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Metal Surfaces for Anti-Icing Applications
Published on: August 15, 2018
Robust Thermochromic Photothermal Coating with Ultraslippery Anti-icing/Deicing and All-Season Temperature Regulation
Shize Sun1, Xiaolin Liu1, Zelinlan Wang1
1Institute of Bionic and Micro-Nano Systems, School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
Research (Washington, D.C.)
|June 3, 2026
Summary
This study presents a smart coating for all-season anti-icing on wind turbines. It prevents ice buildup in winter and overheating in summer using switchable solar-driven modes.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Engineering
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Photothermal materials offer efficient ice prevention for infrastructure like wind turbines.
- A key challenge is managing temperature fluctuations between weak winter sunlight and strong summer sun.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a versatile thermochromic photothermal icephobic coating.
- To enable switchable solar-driven anti-icing and anti-overheating for year-round performance.
Main Methods:
- A robust coating with high solar absorbance (>97%) was engineered.
- Thermochromic properties were utilized for temperature regulation.
- Ice adhesion strength and sliding angles were measured after abrasion testing.
Main Results:
- The coating effectively raised temperature from -10 to 7.6 °C under weak winter irradiation (0.05 W/cm²).
- In summer, it switched to a white, reflective state, limiting temperature below 51 °C.
- The coating demonstrated ultralow ice adhesion strength (<31 kPa) and sliding angle (<8.3°), maintained after 200 abrasion cycles.
Conclusions:
- This intelligent coating addresses the challenge of all-season temperature regulation in photothermal materials.
- It offers a novel approach for designing advanced anti-icing solutions for wind turbines and rotorcraft.
