Flexible superhydrophobic films with the electrothermal and photothermal response for enhanced passive anti-icing and active de-icing

Surface icing poses a significant threat to various industries, including aircraft, power grid, transportation, communication facilities, and offshore platforms. The inefficiency and high energy consumption associated with conventional de-icing methods necessitate the development of an efficient, energy-saving, stable, and reliable alternative. This study proposes an approach to these challenges by fabricating microstructured MWCNT/TiN/PDMS (MMTP) flexible films using laser processing and functional nanocomposites. The multiresponsive MMTP flexible films allow precise control of the surface temperature by adjusting the voltage or the intensity of near-infrared (NIR) light, with surface temperatures exceeding 150 °C with voltage of 10 V or NIR light of 0.9 W/cm2 intensity. This heating property allows the films to maintain its superhydrophobicity even at temperatures as low as -30 °C. In addition, MMTP flexible films can effectively increase the thermal resistance between the solid-liquid phase and reduce the nucleation sites of the droplet, thereby greatly delaying the formation of ice. By using electrothermal/photothermal effects on the films significantly reduces the ice shear strength, making de-icing easier and reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, the films have excellent processability and durability. The multi-responsive superhydrophobic flexible films demonstrate remarkable anti-icing/de-icing performance and show great potential for a wide range of applications, particularly in complex scenarios where equipment is susceptible to icing.