Rapid UV-curable preparation of durable soybean oil-based superhydrophobic anti-icing surfaces with excellent photothermal deicing property

Photothermal superhydrophobic coatings are promising for anti-icing/deicing. However, preparing such coatings from environmentally friendly and sustainable strategies is challenging. Herein, a bio-based and durable photothermal superhydrophobic coating is prepared via layer-by-layer strategy. Bio-based methacrylic acid epoxidized soybean oil oligomers are synthesized as an alternative to petroleum-based binders. Meanwhile, efficient photothermal conversion of hydrophobic particles are enabled by oxidative self-polymerization of dopamine to decorate hydrophobic silica particles grafted with hydrophobic long-chain alkanes and photo-curable methacrylic acid moieties. Ultimately, the superhydrophobic coating is achieved by spraying photothermal hydrophobic particles onto an oxygen-inhibited layer of pre-cured bio-based binder followed by thorough photocuring treatment. The coating exhibits powerful water repellency (WCA of 158.2 ± 1.6°, SA of 4.6 ± 0.8°), good robustness, chemical and UV irradiation resistance. Moreover, under NIR laser irradiation (808 nm, 1 W/cm2), the coating features excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (ΔT of 41.0 °C at 30 s) and stable photothermal conversion performance. And in frigid conditions (-15 °C, ∼73 ± 5 % RH), the coating delivers rapid defrosting (few seconds) and deicing (20 μL water droplet melts in 42 s) performance under NIR irradiation of 1 W/cm2. Therefore, the as-prepared coating provides valuable insight into global anti-icing/deicing action.