Photothermal Solid Slippery Surfaces with Rapid Self-Healing, Improved Anti/De-Icing and Excellent Stability

Icing phenomenon that occurs universally in nature and industry gets a great impact on human life. Over the past decades, extensive efforts have been made for a wide range of anti-icing/deicing surfaces, but the preparation of anti-icing/deicing interfaces that combine stability, rapid self-healing and excellent anti-icing/deicing performance remains a challenge. In this study, a photothermal solid slippery surface with excellent comprehensive performance is prepared by integrating cellulose acetate film, carbon nanotubes with paraffin wax (CCP). Apart from the excellent anti-icing and deicing properties at -17 +/- 1.0 degrees C under 1 sun illumination, the surface can further achieve deicing at temperatures as low as -22 +/- 1.0 degrees C under infrared light. The fabricated surface also exhibits great stability when placed in harsh conditions such as underwater or ultra-low temperature environments for over 30 days. Even when suffering from physical damage, the prepared surface can rapidly self-repair under 1 sun illumination or near-infrared (NIR) illumination within 16.0 +/- 1.5 s. Due to the rapid and repeatable self-healing performance, the lubricating properties of the interface material do not deteriorate even after 50 repeated abrasing-repairing cycles. The photothermal solid slippery surface possesses wide-ranging applications and commercial value at high latitude and altitude regions.

Automated summary

The preparation of anti-icing/deicing interfaces with stability, rapid self-healing, and excellent performance remains a challenge. In this study, a photothermal solid slippery surface with great comprehensive performance is prepared by integrating cellulose acetate film, carbon nanotubes, and paraffin wax (CCP). The surface exhibits excellent anti-icing and deicing performance at -17+/-1.0 degrees C under 1 sun illumination and can further deice at temperatures as low as -22+/-1.0 degrees C under infrared light. It also shows great stability in harsh conditions and can rapidly self-repair under sunlight or near-infrared illumination.