Rigid POSS Reinforced Solid-Liquid Synergistic Ternary Networks Enabling Long-Term Icephobic Durability

Ice accretion on critical infrastructure threatens operational safety and energy efficiency, necessitating durable anti-icing coatings. While slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) exhibit low ice adhesion, lubricant depletion compromises their durability. Crosslinked polymer networks improve longevity, yet the low modulus of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) induces structural fatigue. To reconcile liquid storage, icephobic performance and mechanical robustness, this study integrates polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as rigid skeletal nodes within a silicone elastomer matrix. Direct hydrosilylation achieves a 5 wt.% POSS loading limit; subsequent tetrafunctional siloxane modification increases this to 7.5 wt.% through enhanced compatibility and crosslinking density. This optimized network enables homogeneous nanodomain dispersion, doubled liquid loading, and enhanced storage stability via a solid-phase liquid storage-liquid-phase lubrication-interfacial self-replenishment ternary mechanism. The composite exhibits initial ice adhesion < 2 kPa, freezing delay of 765 s at -20°C, ice nucleation temperature of -21°C, recalescence time of 180 s, and < 20 kPa adhesion after 450 cycles, alongside a dielectric constant of 2.5. Rigorous durability tests confirm < 20 kPa adhesion, with broad substrate compatibility, self-cleaning, and anti-condensation functionality. This strategy effectively balances liquid storage capacity with mechanical robustness for scalable anti-icing applications.