Robust photothermal anti/de-icing hydrophobic coating based on polydopamine (PDA) composition

Abstract

The hydrophobic soft coating has low ice adhesion strength and hydrophobic stability in low-temperature and high-humidity environments, which is crucial for preventing ice formation on infrastructure and transportation systems. However, creating mechanically durable hydrophobic soft coatings using simple methods remains challenging. In this study, a high-hardness particle-toughened, self-stratifying organic layer with high photothermal conversion rate was developed to enhance coating durability and ice-repellent performance. By optimizing the ratio of dopamine (DA) and sodium alginate (SA), a hydrophobic photothermal agent (DPSn) with high hardness and a significant light-heat effect was synthesized. A durable, hydrophobic photothermal anti-ice coating (AR/20 %PDMS/x%DPS1) with varying DPS1 amounts was successfully created using a straightforward one-step spray method, utilizing the self-stratification characteristics of acrylic resin (AR) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), along with the toughening effect of DPSn. The fiber cross-linked structure of DPS1 achieved a photothermal conversion rate of 87.5 %. Adding 4 wt% DPS1 increased the surface temperature of the AR/20 %PDMS coating to 96.5 ± 2.4 °C and boosted the coating’s adhesion strength from 6.70 ± 0.3 MPa to 7.23 ± 0.7 MPa. The AR/20 %PDMS/4%DPS1 coating demonstrated excellent anti-/de-icing performance after 60 friction cycles, 60 icing/de-icing cycles, and 132 h of acid-base immersion. Its simple preparation process and durable ice-repellent properties make it highly suitable for practical applications in photothermal hydrophobic soft coatings.