The preparation of CNTs/GP/TiN/PDMS/PVDF superhydrophobic coating with strong photothermal and electrothermal properties for anti-icing and de-icing

A superhydrophobic coating (PESC) with prominent photothermal and electrothermal properties was obtained by using multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphite powder (GP) and titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles as fillers and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as binders. The water contact angle (WCA), water sliding angle (WSA) and the square resistance of the coating is about 154.3 ± 0.5°, 4 ± 0.5° and 25.9 ± 0.5 Ω/□, respectively. The coating can keep an excellent superhydrophobic, conductive, photothermal and electrothermal stability in an environment with huge alternating temperature differences. The measurement results show that the saturation temperature of the PESC become higher and the time required for saturation temperature is also getting shorter by the co-heating of the weak solar radiation and low power density electric heating. Compared to the icing time of the water droplet on the bare glass surface, the icing time of the water droplet on the PESC surface was nearly 14 times longer. The ice-melting ability of the PESC can become stronger with the photo-electric co-heating. Especially, for the co-action of the weak solar radiation and low electrothermal power density, the temperature rise performance, anti-icing and de-icing properties of the PESC is still very good. This makes the PESC have good potential applications in the weak solar radiation and low temperature environment.