Ice Adhesion Strength Research Articles

Fabrication of a water repellent comb-like WPU with excellent and sustainable anti-icing performance

Surface functional materials have aroused extensive attention due to tremendous application foreground in the anti-icing technology. However, durability and longevity are still critical problems that restrict their practical applications. In this work, a sustainable water-repellent surface was facilely constructed through comb-like WPU of crystalline octadecyl pendant groups. Because of octadecyl crystals tilting on the surface, the comb-like WPU exhibit dynamic water-repellent properties, which are mainly related to laying-down phase of crystals. Meanwhile, the surface wetting behavior is reversible switching between the sliding state and the pinning state due to phase transition, and the surface self-replenishing occurs in this process. Besides, on the basis of excellent adhesion to several substrates, these comb-like WPU make the crystallization temperature of water decreased by 9 °C approximately, and the ice adhesion strength (τice) before and after 150 abrasion cycles maintain only 3 kPa at −20 °C, exhibiting remarkable and regenerable anti-icing and deicing properties. Importantly, the transformation from laying-down phase to standing-up phase of crystals generates the successive deicing effect of interfacial slippage and micro-cracks, resulting in low τice below 20 kPa after continuous 100 icing/deicing cycles. These findings provide a facile way to design a promising surface material for enhancing endurance of anti-icing coatings.

Easily Applicable Superhydrophobic Composite Coating with Improved Corrosion Resistance and Delayed Icing Properties

Mitigating the adverse effects of corrosion failure and low-temperature icing on aluminum (Al) alloy materials poses significant research challenges. The facile fabrication of bioinspired superhydrophobic materials offers a promising solution to the issues of corrosion and icing. In this study, we utilized laboratory-collected candle soot (CS), hydrophobic fumed SiO2, and epoxy resin (EP) to create a HF-SiO2@CS@EP superhydrophobic coating on Al alloy surfaces using a spray-coating technique. Various characterization techniques, including contact angle meter, high-speed camera, FE-SEM, EDS, FTIR, and XPS, were employed to investigate surface wettability, morphologies, and chemical compositions. Moreover, a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was used as a corrosive medium to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the uncoated and coated samples. The results show that the capacitive arc radius, charge transfer resistance, and low-frequency modulus of the coated Al alloy significantly increased, while the corrosion potential (Ecorr) shifted positively and the corrosion current (Icorr) decreased by two orders of magnitude, indicating improved corrosion resistance. Additionally, an investigation of ice formation on the coated Al alloy at −10 °C revealed that the freezing time was 4.75 times longer and the ice adhesion strength was one-fifth of the uncoated Al alloy substrate, demonstrating superior delayed icing and reduced ice adhesion strength performance.

Anti/de-icing superhydrophobic coating with durability and self-healing by infiltrating photothermal self-stratifying organic layers into plasma-sprayed porous Al2O3–13%TiO2 underlayer

Superhydrophobic coatings simultaneously exhibiting high substrate binding, mechanical durability and self-healing properties are of great significance for anti/de-icing applications. In this study, we fabricated a high substrate binding and mechanical durability anti/de-icing superhydrophobic coatings (SL-AP/SPS-SiO2) with self-healing performance by spray-coating a photothermal self-healing organic layers (AP/SPS-SiO2) plasma-sprayed porous Al2O3–13%TiO2 underlayer (SL), the resulting soft-hard interlocking structure significantly increased the adhesion strength of the coating to 16.7 ± 0.36 MPa while reducing the ice adhesion strength to 46.5 ± 3.0 kPa. In the as-obtained organic layers, self-stratifying acrylic resin (AR)/20%polymethylsiloxane (PDMS) (AP), not only enhanced the bonding strength with the underlayer but also imparted photothermal self-healing capability to the coating through the action of the photothermal agent (SPS-SiO2). And sodium alginate (SA) guided the self-oxidative polymerization of dopamine (DA) and its deposition on hydrophilic SiO2 to form a π-π stacked fiber structure photothermal agent (SPS), after hydrophobic SiO2 modification increased the coating's roughness and photothermal performance. Remarkably, the coating achieved a contact angle of up to 158.4 ± 0.89° and a rolling angle of 3.5 ± 0.89°, maintaining its superhydrophobic properties even after exposure to acid-base immersion and mechanical abrasion. Furthermore, the coating exhibited self-healing capabilities in superhydrophobicity against O2 plasma etching, with a contact angle recovery rate of up to 98.9% after undergoing 10 cycles of O2 plasma etching and light exposure. Enhancing mechanical and chemical stability with self-healing capabilities is beneficial for extending the lifespan of superhydrophobic coatings used in anti-/de-icing applications.

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

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.

Ultraviolet-cured polyurea-polyurethane acrylate/polysiloxane hybrid anti-fouling coatings with superior mechanical properties, transparency, and durability

The demand for rapidly preparing omniphobic liquid-like anti-fouling coatings has become increasingly important across a wide range of applications. However, achieving a rapid fabrication process that results in coatings with effective anti-fouling properties, alongside the comprehensive performance of the coatings such as hardness, flexibility, transparency, and abrasion resistance, remains a significant challenge. Herein, this paper proposes a synergistic strategy combining ultraviolet (UV) curing and organic/inorganic hybridization, which involves the rapid cross-linking of hyperbranched methacryloxypropyl polysiloxanes (HMO), polyurea-polyurethanes acrylate (SPUA) and bis-vinyl terminated polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS-bvt) containing multiple double bonds under UV curing for just 60 s. Notably, HMO imparts excellent hardness (7H) and abrasion resistance, while SPUA enhances the coating's flexibility (2 mm bending diameter) and adhesion (5B). The anti-fouling properties of the coating are attributed to PDMS-bvt, which provides self-cleaning, anti-graffiti, and anti-fingerprint capabilities. Additionally, the coating's hydrophobicity and smooth surface significantly reduce ice adhesion strength (21.13 ± 6.9 kPa), offering a passive anti-icing effect. Furthermore, the coating exhibits excellent transparency, with a transmittance of >92 % in the visible region. The coating exhibits remarkable durability, maintaining its anti-fouling performance after exposure to mechanical abrasion (500 abrasion cycles and 1000 bending/release cycles), chemical corrosion (24 h of immersion in organic solutions), and UV aging (168 h). This strategy presents a fast and effective method for preparing multifunctional anti-fouling coatings, with potential applications on foldable screens, high-rise building glazing, and curved surfaces.

Innovative ice mitigation: Exploring the potential of choline-based deep eutectic solvents and ionic liquids synergies

The development of anti-icing coatings for extremely low temperatures is still emerging. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs), as subset of ionic liquid (IL) analogues, have recently gained increasing attention for their unique and versatile applications. Given no investigation regarding anti-icing capabilities of DESs, our study focused on the exciting potential of choline-based DESs. The intriguing potential of hydrogen bonding through the synergistic combination of DESs and ILs offers significant promise for innovative solutions to ice-related challenges that remain largely unexplored. We conducted a comprehensive study on the anti-freezing properties of DESs by synthesizing choline-based ILs featuring both hydrophilic and hydrophobic anions. We aimed to explore how the diverse hydrogen-bond donors in DESs combined with the synthesized ILs to enhance the system’s ability to prevent ice formation. Substituting ethylene glycol (EG) with glycerol (GL) resulted in achieving an ice formation temperature of − 36 °C and an exceptionally low ice adhesion strength of 10 kPa, due to a thicker quasi-liquid layer on the coating surface, confirmed by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The altered frost formation patterns of the DES-containing coatings demonstrated an enhance resistance against frost formation. This comprehensive study underscored the promising synergy between DESs and ILs for highly effective ice mitigation.

Durable one-component polyurea icephobic coatings with energy-saving performance in electrical heating de-icing

Ice formation and accumulation on the surfaces of aircraft, wind turbines, and boat hulls might result in serious economic losses and catastrophic accidents. The development of a new generation of icephobic surfaces has emerged in recent years for anti-icing. However, insufficient durability of the existing icephobic surfaces remains a significant challenge to their applications. In this study, durable one-component polyurea icephobic coatings (OPICs) with a low ice adhesion strength (∼25.3 kPa) were prepared via a solvent-free method by combining the NCO-terminated prepolymer, latent curing agent, and silicone oil. The chemical structure, surface morphology, wettability, mechanical properties, icephobicity, and durability of the OPICs were studied. The optimized design of OPICs with synergistic icephobic mechanisms endowed them with excellent icephobicity and durability. The superior mechanical durability and chemical stability were revealed by the maintaining icephobicity of OPICs even after 3000 continuous Taber abrasion cycles, as well as 50 icing/de-icing cycles, 72 h of NaOH immersion, and 240 h of neutral salt spray test. The effect of OPICs on minimizing the electric power consumption was further investigated by icing wind tunnel. In comparison to the epoxy primer coated and Al alloy coated airfoil surface, airfoil surface coated by OPIC-30 was found to achieve about 43.7 % and 43.9 % energy savings in the keeping entire airfoil surface ice-free, respectively. The one-component polyurea icephobic coatings have great prospects for practical applications that require long-term anti-icing properties.

Robust anti-icing double-layer superamphiphobic composite coatings for heat exchangers

The formation and accumulation of ice on the heat exchangers of air conditioners significantly reduce the performance issues, as well as the stability and heating efficiency. Superhydrophobic anti-icing coatings passively achieve multifunctional anti-icing properties by minimizing water droplet contact and promoting Cassie ice formation. However, long-term performance in frigid environments remains challenge for these coatings due to limitations in anti-icing durability and mechanical properties. Herein, a double-layer polymer-SiC/F-SiO2 superamphiphobic composite coating is developed. The bottom layer comprises a polymer PAI and SiC composite, and the top layer consists of F-SiO2. The composite coating demonstrates superior performance in simultaneous frost prevention, low ice adhesion, easy frost removal, exceptional mechanical strength, and long-lasting anti-icing durability. Our developed double-layer coating exhibits low ice adhesion strength down to 9.2 kPa, remarkable mechanical resilience against scratching and flushing, and delayed frost properties. These superior anti-icing properties, manifested by both lower adhesion strength and improved frost repellency, lead to a doubling of frosting time and the easier removal of ice on coated heat exchangers compared to traditional units. The development of this novel superamphiphobic composite coating provides a practical approach to creating durable anti-icing materials, leading to significant improvements in air conditioner performance.

Effect of lubricant loading in slippery liquid-infused surface for persistent anti-icing performance

Due to the vast applications in biomedical materials and aerospace industry, smart slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs) have attracted remarkable attention. However, there are still challenges in the fabrication of durable SLIPS. In this work, based on linear polyurea and silicone oil, a series of durable anti-icing surface were fabricated. Based on the long-lasting secretion of lubricant, the ice adhesion strength of 60-PUa was 2.7 ± 0.5 kPa and could remain below 10 kPa even after 30 icing-deicing cycles. And the icing delay time of 60-PUa could be extended up to 870 s at a temperature of −15 °C. The introduction of large numbers of reversible hydrogen bonds in the system and silicone oil made it possible to achieve high self-healing efficiency under natural conditions. The coating system not only improved the ice removal ability, but also had excellent water-sliding properties, the droplet could slide under its own weight on 60-PUa at a tilt angle of 4.7°. This work provides an easy way to fabricate multi-functional SLIPS with durability.

Molecular dynamics simulation on de-icing behavior of nanodroplets on amorphous SiO2

Abstract The ice formation and detachment process of nanoscale water droplets on the amorphous SiO2 substrate, which is for simulating the glass of solar panels, is studied in this paper by molecular dynamics simulation methods, considering the effects of environmental temperature, onset of icing time, and parameters of the nanoarray on the ice formation morphology and ice adhesion strength. The results show that the ice adhesion strength is independent of the environmental temperature. The time of icing onset influences the recoil state of droplets, with a larger spreading area leading to higher adhesion strength. The increase in height and decrease in width of the nanocolumns of nanoarray structure leads to an increase in the contact angle of the droplet, causing a reduction in ice adhesion strength, albeit with a slight rise within a certain height range.

Micro/Nano Hierarchical Crater-Like Structure Surface With Mechanical Durability and Low-Adhesion for Anti-Icing/Deicing.

Superhydrophobic surfaces have attracted significant attention for their ability to prevent ice formation and facilitate deicing without requiring external energy. However, these surfaces are often vulnerable to damage from external forces, leading to functional failure due to poor mechanical stability, which limits their widespread use. Drawing inspiration from the hierarchical groove of rose petals and the micropapillae of lotus leaves, a simple laser-based method is proposed to create a superhydrophobic surface with a micro/nano hierarchical crater-like structure (HCLS). To enhance the surface, boiling water treatment is applied to induce dense nanostructures, resulting in an optimal contact angle (CA) of 162° and a desirable sliding angle (SA) of 2.0°. The initial ice adhesion strength of HCLS is as low as 1.4kPa and remains below 10kPa even after 300cm sandpaper abrasion. Furthermore, the HCLS demonstrates excellent mechanical durability, maintaining its performance under conditions that simulate the continuous impact of water and sand in extreme weather. This approach offers an innovative design concept that has the potential to advance the development of anti-icing and deicing surfaces for future aircraft.

Low ice adhesion on soft surfaces: Elasticity or lubrication effects?

HypothesisSoft materials are promising candidates for designing passive de-icing systems. It is unclear whether low adhesion on soft surfaces is due to elasticity or lubrication, and how these properties affect the ice detachment mechanism. This study presents a systematic analysis of ice adhesion on soft materials with different lubricant content to better understand the underpinning interaction. ExperimentsThe wetting and mechanical properties of soft polydimethylsiloxane with different lubricant content were thoroughly characterized by contact angle, AFM indentation, and rheology measurements. The collected information was used to understand the relationship with the ice adhesion results, obtained by using different ice block sizes. FindingsThree different de-icing mechanisms were identified: (i) single detachment occurs when small ice blocks are considered, and the ice completely detaches in a single event. In the case of larger ice blocks, the reattachment of the ice block is promoted by either: (ii) stick–slip or, (iii) interfacial slippage, depending on the lubricant content.It was confirmed that the ice adhesion strength not only depends on material properties but also on experimental conditions, such as the ice dimensions. Moreover, differently than on hard surfaces, where wetting primarily determines the icephobic performance, also elasticity and lubrication should be considered on soft surfaces.

Transformation of Fly Ash-Based Oxide Particles into a Functional Silica-Alumina Aerogel and Its Potential Application as an Anti-icing Surface.

Lightweight, surface hydrophobic, highly insulating, and long-lasting aerogels are required for energy conservation and ice-repellent applications. Here, we present the conversion of fly ash to a silica-alumina aerogel (SAA) by utilizing its high silica content. The extracted silica component replaces expensive precursors typically used in conventional aerogel production. Ice adhesion performance was compared to that of polypropylene (PP), an insulating commodity polymer. First, we removed some salt impurities and heavy metals via water and alkaline washing protocols. Then, we produced SAA via the ambient pressure drying method by using trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) as an adhesion promoter. The newly produced SAA has a surface area of 810 m2 g-1 and shows hydrophobic properties with a contact angle of 140 ± 5°. The thermal conductivity of SAA is 0.0238 W m-1 K-1 with C P = 1.1922 MJ m-3 K-1. The ice adhesion strength of the PP substrate was calculated as 188.30 ± 51.24 kPa, while the ice adhesion strength of the SAA was measured as 1.21 ± 0.40 kPa, which was about 150 times lower than that of PP. This indicated that SAA had icephobic properties since ice adhesion strength was less than 10 kPa. This study demonstrates that fly ash-based SAA can be utilized as an economical material with a large surface area and exceptional thermal insulation capacity and is free of harmful compounds (heavy metals), making it potentially suitable as an anti-ice thermal insulation material.

Unraveling Ice-Solid Interface Rupture Dynamics: Insights from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Unwanted icing on exposed surfaces poses significant risks, driving the quest for effective anti-icing mechanisms. While fracture mechanics concepts have been developed for designing coatings that weaken the ice-solid interface on soft surfaces, the factors that dictate ice adhesion strength and its counterpart, ice removal force, on hard surfaces remain poorly understood. In this study, we employ molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interface rupture between ice and a hard solid substrate. The results indicate that the ice adhesion strength is contingent on the length of the ice cube. By examining the shearing behavior, we reveal a nanoscale critical force-bearing length. The shear force required to detach the ice scales proportionally with the length of the ice cube when it is smaller than the critical length. Once the ice cube length exceeds the critical length, the shear force stabilizes at a constant maximum value, revealing the existence of a maximum ice-removal force. The results align with the so-called strength versus toughness-controlled deicing regimes and are in agreement with cohesive zone modeling at the continuum length scale and recent experimental results. Our results extend this understanding to the nanoscale, confirming consistency between macro and micro scales. This consistency suggests that the toughness of the ice-solid interface is intrinsically governed by ice-surface interactions. By unraveling key intrinsic factors and their scale-dependent effects on the interface rupture of ice on surfaces, this study lays a solid theoretical foundation for the design and fabrication of next-generation anti-icing surfaces.

Ice-resistant Fe3O4@PPy coating: Enhancing stability and durability with photothermal super hydrophobicity

Developing a superhydrophobic a superhydrophobic anti-icing coating with robust mechanical attributes and chemical resilience is essential for effective anti-icing protection. This study employed fluorine-modified epoxy resin as the resin matrix and Fe3O4@PPy as the photothermal filler to fabricate an ice-resistant superhydrophobic coating, renowned for its exceptional mechanical endurance and corrosion resistance. With its unique micro-nano structure, the resulting coating exhibited an impressive contact angle (CA) of 158.7° and a minimal sliding angle (SA) of <1°. Even after enduring 260 cycles of sandpaper abrasion and tape peeling tests, the coating retained a CA of 157.8° and 154.2° respectively, demonstrating remarkable mechanical durability. The Fe3O4@PPy coatings exhibit excellent ice resistance with water droplets frozen time prolonging to 524 s at −20 °C. Moreover, when exposed to a light intensity of 100 mW/cm2, the coating rapidly heated to 82.4 °C, effectively facilitating de-icing and defrosting, while reducing ice adhesion strength by 88.4 %, underscoring its exceptional anti-icing efficacy. These findings underscore the potential of durable and chemically stable anti-·icing coatings to deliver sustained anti-icing benefits and hold promising practical applications.

In-Situ Observation of Ice-Adhesion Interface Under Tangential Loading: Anti-Icing Mechanism of Hydrophilic PPEGMA Polymer Brush

Techniques preventing icing and ice accumulation on surfaces are required to solve snow- and ice-induced accidents and disasters. Recently, hydrophilic polymers have attracted attention as a passive anti-icing method. This study examined the ice-adhesion properties of the hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (PPEGMA) concentrated polymer brush (CPB). A custom-built apparatus was developed to obtain the ice-adhesion strength and visualize the dynamics of the ice-adhesion interface under tangential loading. The ice-adhesion interface for a PPEGMA-CPB-coated glass substrate was investigated by comparing it with the bare glass substrate. As a result, the CPB exhibited a low ice-adhesion strength of less than 100 kPa, the dependencies of which on the drive speed and temperature indicate a high-viscous liquid-like layer at the interface, even below the melting point of water, leading to the smooth onset of sliding due to its self-lubricity without any rupture events (including precursory events) observed for the bare glass.

Laser-based functionalization for superhydrophobic silicon carbide with mechanical durability, anti-icing and anti-fouling properties

The further applications of silicon carbide (SiC) are limited due to the ease of being contaminated and tendency for icing at low temperature caused by its intrinsically hydrophilicity. In recent years, superhydrophobic surface has been widely employed due to the potential value in anti-fouling and passive anti-icing. In this work, a novel laser ablation-silicone oil heat treatment (LASH) composite process is proposed to fabricate superhydrophobic SiC surface. Many microscale “fence” structures and nanoscale “broccoli” fragmental structures are successfully obtained, which can be adjusted by using different laser processing parameters. Besides, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis demonstrates that the effective deposition of low surface energy chemical functional groups is the key to realize the superhydrophobic properties of SiC surface. The coupling effect between the micro/nano structures and low surface energy is confirmed to be important for the stability of Cassie-Baxter state at low temperature. In addition, the freezing process of water droplets on the LASH surface at low temperature and the mechanism of the rapid transition from Wenzel state to Cassie-Baxter state are analyzed. The experimental results indicate that the LASH surface possesses a longer static icing time and keeps good hydrophobicity at −5 °C. The icing temperature of the LASH surface decreases to −17.6 °C while the temperature of the untreated surface is −3.7 °C. Moreover, the LASH surface possesses a lower ice adhesion strength which means it is easier for the ice droplets to break away from the surface. After 20 cycles of icing-deicing experiments, the WCA of the LASH surface is still higher than 150° and its ice adhesion strength slightly increases to 240 kPa. Finally, the mechanical robustness of the LASH surface is studied through the abrasive belt and tape stripping tests, and the anti-fouling property is also evaluated. The change of ice adhesion strength on the LASH surface under cyclic icing experiment is analyzed. The experimental results show that the LASH surface has great mechanical durability and anti-fouling property, which is expected to further expand the application prospects of SiC in different fields.

Investigating the effect of deicing parameters using high-pressure water jet

Maritime operations are impacted by ice accretion on decks, bulkheads, and offshore structures during the winter or in extremely frigid climates. In most cases, the traditional method of deicing maritime vessels is human labor, which requires enormous effort and lengthy hours for unsatisfactory results, particularly when the ice adhesion strength is high. This study experimentally examined combined effects of operational parameters, including operating pump pressure, nozzle geometry, water jet temperature, standoff distance, and time of cut, on the depth and width of a cut through an ice block. In comparison to other parameters, the influence of nozzle geometry on both the width and depth of cut was found to be more significant, with R-squared values of 85% and 62% respectively. Increasing the depth and width of the cut facilitated the delamination and disintegration of ice from an aluminum mold. This indicates that water jet deicing on maritime vessels could be effective, therefore achieving the objective of this study. The optimization of operational parameters is used to develop a cuttability chart for various thicknesses of accumulated ice on marine vessels.

3D liquid-based porous coating integrated with oleophilic MXene nanoflakes for durable ultra-low ice adhesion and exceptional photothermal slippery properties

The accumulation of ice on the surfaces of equipment/facilities can result in energy wastage, substantial economic losses, and even pose a threat to personal safety. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) liquid-based porous resin coating doped with oleophilic molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) MXene nanoflakes was fabricated on a pre-coated oleogel sealer layer of aluminum plate. The results showed a reduction of approximately 99.1 % in ice adhesion strength (∼4.66 kPa) compared to the sandblasted aluminum plate and consistently maintained ice adhesion strength below 10 kPa for 70 days. Moreover, the coating exhibited excellent photothermal properties, with icing time delayed by a factor of 33.2 under simulated solar radiation power of 96 mW/cm2 (1 sun) at an ambient temperature of − 15 °C. The ice adhered to the coating could easily slide off without the external force under “1 sun” at − 10 °C. The superior anti/de-icing performance of the coating can be primarily attributed to the low interfacial modulus of the porous structure, the exceptional retention of silicone-oil, and the excellent photothermal effect of embedded MXene nanoflakes. The 3D liquid-based porous coating, possessing extremely low ice adhesion and remarkable de-icing stability, demonstrates the substantial potential for practical applications that require sustained anti/de-icing performance.

Withdrawn: Low ice adhesion on soft surfaces: Elasticity or lubrication effects?

HypothesisSoft materials are promising candidates for designing passive de-icing systems. It is unclear whether low adhesion on soft surfaces is due to elasticity or lubrication, and how these properties affect the ice detachment mechanism. This study presents a systematic analysis of ice adhesion on soft materials with different lubricant content to better understand the underpinning interaction. ExperimentsThe wetting and mechanical properties of soft polydimethylsiloxane with different lubricant content were thoroughly characterized by contact angle, indentation, and rheology measurements. The collected information was used to understand the relationship with the ice adhesion results, obtained by using different ice block sizes. FindingsThree different de-icing mechanisms were identified: (i) single detachment occurs when small ice blocks are considered, and the ice completely detaches in a single event. In the case of larger ice blocks, the reattachment of the ice block is promoted by either: (ii) stick–slip or, (iii) interfacial slippage, depending on the lubricant content.It was confirmed that the ice adhesion strength is not a material property, since it depends on the ice block size. As such, differently than on hard surfaces, where wetting primarily determines the icephobic performance, also elasticity and lubrication need to be considered on soft surfaces.