Recent progress in the anti-icing performance of slippery liquid-infused surfaces

Abstract

Ice accumulation on outdoor structures can cause costly damage to this exposed infrastructure. Research has therefore focused on means of protecting these surfaces from ice coverage. A promising approach is the design of anti-icing surfaces and, in particular, the development of slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) for icephobic applications. SLIPS involve a lubricant being infused into the porous structures of the surface, thereby eliminating water condensation in pores and reducing ice adhesion. Liquid-infused surfaces also exhibit an extreme liquid repellency, showing a low contact angle hysteresis of <2.5° and a low tilt angle of <5°. This paper will present recent progress in the development of anti-icing properties of slippery surfaces through a review of their fabrication methods, surface textures, and lubricant properties. We evaluate the wettability behavior of liquid-infused surfaces and outline the fabrication methods of slippery surfaces. This review also discusses the factors having the greatest effect on icephobicity, including surface morphology and lubricant properties. Finally, we introduce the latest research in the development of self-lubricating and durable SLIPS surfaces.