Lizard skin-inspired superhydrophobic photothermal fabric with hierarchical structure for anti/de-icing coverings

Abstract

Icing often brings about severe risks, causing financial losses, compromising personal safety, and damaging facilities, etc. Hence, it is urgent to address icing. In this study, a new approach for the efficient anti/de-icing by the semi-aquatic anole lizards was proposed by developing a photothermal superhydrophobic coating. This coating combined polyaniline (PANI) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), creating a superhydrophobic surface with the efficient photothermal conversion properties. The fabrication process included the deposition of PANI via the in-situ polymerization, followed by the impregnation with PDMS. This coating not only enhanced the fabric light-absorbing ability, but also presented significant hydrophobic properties. It had the surface equilibrium temperature of up to 63.5 °C at the light intensity of 1 sun and contact angle of 147°. The anti-icing tests suggested that the coating extended the condensation time of water droplets from 147 s to 338 s and significantly reduced the ice adhesion strength. Furthermore, the photothermal de-icing performance indicated that both the small ice particles and the large overlying ice layer were all rapidly melted and slid down under light irradiation. The coating also exhibited a strong self-cleaning ability, with contaminants readily removed by the water. Durability tests confirmed that the coating was resistant to the UV light, friction and multiple freeze-thawing cycles, ensuring long-term functionality. These findings provide new scope for the development of green and efficient anti/de-icing coated fabric, especially in greenhouses of the agricultural field.