Stable photothermal solid slippery surface with enhanced anti-icing and de-icing properties

Abstract

Ice formation on the surface of outdoor equipment brings a severe negative impact on daily life and industry production. Lubricant infused surfaces have arisen intensive attentions for anti-icing due to its outstanding water repellency. In this work, a dual-functions anti-icing/de-icing solid slippery surface has been developed by infusion GO@Fe3O4 mixed PDMS/PF lubricant into nano-grass CuO (PSSS). On account of the low surface energy of the lubricant and the photothermal effect of GO@Fe3O4, ice formation and accumulation can be inhibited and readily in-situ removed. After the addition of GO@Fe3O4, the icing-delay time of 5% PSSS can prolonged to 269 s under –10 ℃ which is significantly longer than that of bare Cu (6 s) and PDMS/PF infused surface (78 s). The surface temperature can be sharply arisen to 71.7 ℃ under the infrared irradiation within 120 s, the ice and lubricant would be melted under this high temperature and showed an extremely low ice adhesion strength. It was worth noting that the surface can be self-healed within 36 s because of the photothermal effect. Besides, the PSSS could maintain its photothermal effect with ignorable attenuation even after exposed in laboratory environment for 12 months, indicating prominent stability. This work provides a perspective for designing robust lubricant infused slippery surface and will have a profound influence for anti-icing/de-icing applications.