Fabrication and Study of Micro- and Nanostructured Superhydrophobic and Anti-Icing Surfaces

Abstract

Different micro-and nanostructured superhydrophobic and anti-icing surfaces have been fabricated and studied. Methods for forming hierarchical structures on Teflon surfaces, ensuring a wetting angle of 163°, have been developed. It is shown that the contact wetting angle of the fabricated nanoporous anodic alumina surfaces coated with a fluoroorganic molecular layer attains 173°. Anti-icing slippery alumina surfaces containing an array of nanopores filled with a Krytox100 fluorinated synthetic oil, which does not freeze down to a temperature of –70°C, have been designed and fabricated. The thin oil layer on such surfaces is confined inside pores by capillary forces and ensures the slipping of water droplets and the absence of ice crystallization centers on such surfaces. In contrast to superhydrophobic surfaces, water droplets on these slippery surfaces do not freeze at temperatures reaching at least –10°C.