Exceptional Anti-Icing Performance of Self-Impregnating Slippery Surfaces

TL;DR

This paper introduces a self-impregnating slippery surface that significantly delays ice formation and facilitates faster deicing, maintaining performance under subzero conditions for extended periods.

Contribution

It presents a novel self-impregnating surface with a liquid barrier that enhances anti-icing performance and durability compared to traditional surfaces.

Findings

Ice coverage time increased significantly.

Ice fragments skate and expedite defrosting.

Surface remains robust under subcooling for over 490 hours.

Abstract

A heat exchange interface at subzero temperature in a water vapor environment, exhibits high probability of frost formation due to freezing condensation, a factor that markedly decreases the heat transfer efficacy due to the considerable thermal resistance of ice. Here we report a novel strategy to delay ice nucleation on these types of solid-water vapor interfaces. With a process-driven mechanism, a self-generated liquid intervening layer immiscible to water, is deposited on a textured superhydrophobic surface and acts as a barrier between the water vapor and the solid substrate. This liquid layer imparts remarkable slippery conditions resulting in high mobility of condensing water droplets. A large increase of the ensuing ice coverage time is shown compared to the cases of standard smooth hydrophilic or textured superhydrophobic surfaces. During deicing of these self-impregnating surfaces we show an impressive tendency of ice fragments to skate expediting defrosting. Robustness of such surfaces is also demonstrated by operating them under subcooling for at least 490hr without a marked degradation. This is attributed to the presence of the liquid intervening layer, which protects the substrate from hydrolyzation enhancing longevity and sustaining heat transfer efficiency.