AFP-based anti-icing coatings: present challenges and future opportunities

Abstract

To address ice-induced hazards on outdoor infrastructure, anti-icing coatings that inhibit ice nucleation, propagation, adhesion, and water condensation are currently under development. Throughout the evolution of organisms, antifreeze proteins (AFPs) have protected organisms in sub-zero and ice-rich environments, allowing them to thrive therein. With the gradual elucidation of the mechanism of AFPs, notably, the discovery of the non-ice-binding face (NIBF) of AFPs with regular structures capable of depressing ice nucleation, AFPs have begun to demonstrate great potential in anti-icing coatings. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of anti-icing coatings and discuss the possibility of introducing AFPs into such coatings, especially the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based anti-icing coating. Furthermore, some guidelines for selecting or designing AFPs for anti-icing coatings will be explained. In short, the robust properties, stability and ability to depress ice nucleation of AFPs, as well as the miscibility of AFPs in the precursor solution, are important factors in the selection and design of AFPs.