Use of Liquid Ad(ab)sorbing Surfaces for Anti-icing Applications

Abstract

Aizenberg and co-workers developed slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) where a textured solid was infused with an immiscible perfluorinated lubricant with low surface free energy to create a smooth liquid over layer. The lubricant was selected to minimize ice nucleation and ice adhesion strength. Many slippery surfaces using various lubricating fluids (perfluorinated, silicone oil, hydrocarbon, and water) have been produced in the last 5 years. As the possible interactions between the lubricant and the patterned or porous solid structure would be adsorption or absorption in scientific terms, in this work the terminology commonly used to describe these systems, “infuse (or impregnate),” is replaced by defining these materials as “liquid ad(ab)sorbing surfaces” (LAAS) instead. In this review, initial discussion is on two main conditions to form ice on surfaces, that is, ice formation from impinging supercooled droplets and frost formation from atmospheric humidity. This is followed by a summary of the synthesis and properties of flat low surface energy and superhydrophobic anti-icing surfaces, the basic reference surfaces used in passive anti-icing. Then the synthesis and anti-icing performances of LAAS are reviewed in three subtopics, depending on the lubricant used in their preparation such as fluorinated lubricants, silicone liquids, and hydrophilic liquids. The factors affecting ice adhesion strength are discussed and the importance of ice accretion experiments is highlighted. The need for standardization of both measurements is stressed in order to compare the results reported from different laboratories. Finally, some promising approaches are recommended for future research such as the use of LAAS in combination with traditional anti-icing and deicing techniques, superhydrophobic surfaces, or Joule heating systems to decrease the amount of electrical energy supplied.