Fabrication of superhydrophobic surface with desirable anti-icing performance based on micro/nano-structures and organosilane groups

A superhydrophobic surface was successfully obtained via the combination of specific micro/nano-structures and chemical modification. Herein, microstructures were developed by the poly (styrene-acrylonitrile) (SAN) copolymers through non-solvent induced phase separation method, while the hexamethyldisilazane-modified silica (SiO2) nanoparticles aggregate to form nanostructures. Consequently, the surface was covered with many more micro/nano-structures and organic groups, successfully leading to a superhydrophobic surface. The micro/nanostructures were mainly studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), whereas the surface chemistry was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis revealed that SiO2 nanoparticles tend to enrich on the surface with increasing SiO2 content, yet results showed that the surface wettability reached a saturated state with 5 wt% SiO2 content. With the addition of 5 wt% SiO2, the water contact angle of the relevant surface was 159 degrees, performing superhydrophobicity. Simultaneously, the superhydrophobic surface performed desirable anti-icing property, where the water droplet kept unfrozen on the as-prepared surface for over 97 min at the temperature of -10 degrees C and humidity of 40%. In general, this study proposed a facile way to prepare superhydrophobic surface with desirable anti-icing property which might have potential applications against ice accumulation.