Facile Approach for Designing Icephobic Coatings Using Polymers/Silica Nanoparticle Composites via Self-Formation of Superhydrophobic Surfaces

Ice accumulation and proliferation adversely affect the activities of various residential, commercial, and polar research stations. Although significant efforts are devoted to preventing ice adhesion to various surfaces by developing various anti-icing coatings, it is still necessary to enhance overall performance and durability. Herein, a facile approach is proposed for fabricating an icephobic coating on an aluminum 6061 (Al) substrate, by coating a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/ poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) composite through a spin-coating method, followed by sprinkling of SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Crosslinker/binder-free adhesion between PDMS and PTFE is achieved by utilizing secondary-induced electrostatic dipole-dipole interactions, these interactions are supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations as well as structural studies. Moreover, the controlled addition of PTFE powder to PDMS improves the water-repellency, mechanical strength, and surface roughness of the coating. The self-formation of the superhydrophobic state of the PDMS/PTFE composite is achieved by sprinkling SiO2 NPs. The sprinkled SiO2 NPs are protected by the PDMS/PTFE composite, which serves as a stress concentrator to achieve low ice adhesion. Furthermore, freezing at low temperatures can be delayed by controlling the heat flow rate, interfacial contact area, and surface texture. This indicates the feasibility of the proposed method for various promising anti-icing applications.