Biomimetic Laminated Photothermal Superhydrophobic Energy-Storage Coatings with Synergistic Temperature-Matched Phase Change for Enhanced Anti-Icing and Deicing

Recently, photothermal superhydrophobic energy-storage coatings (PSECs) with anti-icing abilities via latent heat release in the dark environment have drawn attention, yet their heat transfer mechanisms and material design criteria are rarely reported. In this work, inspired by polar bear fur, a biomimetic laminated PSEC, featuring a hair-like photothermal superhydrophobic surface layer and a fat-like energy-storage layer, was designed. PSECs with different phase-change materials have different performances in anti-icing, and a better anti-icing performance occurs when the phase-transition temperature closely aligns with the ambient temperature. Anti-icing tests of PSECs at -20 °C showed that dodecanol-based PSEC-12 delayed the freezing time to 2967.6 s─outperforming tetradecanol (PSEC-14, 2553.0 s) and hexadecanol (PSEC-16, 2246.4 s). Heat transfer analysis revealed that the temperature difference between phase change and ambient temperatures affects the heat loss rate, surface temperature, and anti-icing performance. This study does more than merely present methodologies for the creation of effective anti-/deicing materials; it also provides a thorough analysis of the thermal transfer behavior exhibited by PSECs throughout the anti-/deicing process, which will help design high-performance anti-icing and deicing materials.