Buckling-Inspired Multilayer Superhydrophobic Surfaces with Integrated Photo/Electro-Thermal Capabilities for Ultra-Low-Temperature Anti-Icing and De-Icing

Abstract

All-weather highly efficient anti-icing/deicing surfaces are of great significance for solving the problem of ice accumulation on the surface of outdoor equipment. The photo/eletro-thermal superhydrophobic surface is an efficient anti-icing and deicing strategy. However, a significant challenge in their practical application is the difficulty of balancing high superhydrophobicity, low ice adhesion and photo/eletro-thermal deicing ability, especially in ultra-low temperature environments (<-50℃). Herein, inspired by engineering buckling instability phenomenon, this work reports a novel decoupling photo/electro-thermal multilayer superhydrophobic surface (EPS) though implantation of the inverted flexible micro-columns as the flexible supporting layer. The existence of flexible supporting layer can greatly reduce the interface toughness and ice adhesion force. The EPS exhibits efficient anti-/deicing performance and excellent superhydrophobicity, demonstrating an 14 times longer icing delay time than original glass substrate at -70 ℃, photo/eletro-thermal deicing in 5min8s at -70 ℃, water contact angle of 154.1° and sliding angle of 3.2°. Furthermore, the surface maintains low ice adhesion force of 4.38kPa, and after 50 cycles of ice adhesion test, the ice adhesion strength on the surface of EPS remains below 5 kPa.Remarkably, EPS has excellent photo/electro-thermal conversion ability with an average light absorption rate of 95.8%, a significant surface temperature increase of 82.8 °C under 1 sun irradiation and joule heat temperature of 224.6 ℃ at a power density of 0.3w/cm². The ice droplet can easily slide off the surface after photo/electro-thermal deicing in the ultralow temperature environments of -40 ℃ to -70 ℃. After photo/electro-thermal deicing, the surface is still completely unwetted, maintaining superhydrophobicity and continuous anti/deicing effect. This research provides a new approach for the design and fabrication of photo/eletro-thermal superhydrophobic surfaces, which is conducive to achieving efficient passive anti-icing and active deicing in practical applications.