Photo‐Electro‐Thermal Switchable Hydrophobic/Slippery Icephobic Surfaces Based on Multi‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes for Passive Anti‐Icing and Active Deicing

ABSTRACT Ice accretion on airplane surfaces, power lines, or wind turbines causes severe detrimental effects on commercial and residential activities. A great deal of effort has been made to prepare facile and environmentally friendly anti‐icing and de‐icing surfaces over the last several years. Herein, we present a novel paraffin‐infused polyurethane‐carbon nanotubes micro‐nanostructured icephobic surface (PIPCS) with desired photothermal, electrothermal, and switchable hydrophobic/slippery wettability features for anti‐/deicing. The hydrophobic characteristic prevents the ice/frost formation, and the slippery property accelerates the removal of supercooled liquid water. The light‐trapping effect from carbon nanotubes endows the film with superior non‐contact deicing ability via light irradiation. Furthermore, spatiotemporal control of frost crystal growth on a surface could be achieved via coordination of the strength of cooling and irradiation. Additionally, for the scenarios of sunlight absence, PIPCS exhibits an outstanding electrothermal deicing ability under low voltage. The above properties make PIPCS a promising all‐weather anti‐icing surface for passive anti‐icing and non‐contacting deicing in high‐altitude equipment and power transportation systems.