Petal shaped nanostructures planted on array micro-patterns for superhydrophobicity and anti-icing applications

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to report a facile strategy of planting a layer of petal shaped nanostructures on the surface of array micro-patterns, and producing the excellent superhydrophobicity and anti-icing property. In this work, the superhydrophobic surfaces were prepared by modifying petal shaped nanostructures (constructed by chemical etching in alkaline solution) planted on array micro-patterns (constructed by lithography process with the electrochemical etching under the neutral solution condition) on aluminum substrate with fluoroalkylsilane (FAS-17). Meanwhile, we further studied the effects of chemical etching process parameters on morphology and superhydrophobicity, and on this basis explored the anti-icing potential under the condition of icing wind tunnel. The results indicated that the process parameters including NaOH concentration of 0.05 M, etching time of 5 min, and the subsequent boiling time of 40 min were of benefit to producing the ideal nanostructure morphology and geometric dimension, and the resultant surface displayed an excellent superhydrophobicity with the apparent contact angle of 165° and the sliding angle being almost equal to zero (cannot be measured). Furthermore, the as-superhydrophobic surface generated a tremendous anti-icing potential, greatly preventing the icing accumulation at-10 °C under the condition of icing wind tunnel, and exhibiting a lower ice adhesion strength comparing with a market mature production of superhydrophobic coating.

Icephobic materials: Fundamentals, performance evaluation, and applications

“…Correspondingly, the water droplet rolling off angle exhibited the same trend, as shown in Fig. 5f-h. Shen Y, et al reported a layer of TiO 2 nanowires with different length and diameter grown on a Ti substrate with different water adhesive forces [110,111]. These studies further confirm that ultralow water adhesion condition is indeed achievable, and it does not only depends on the topography of nanostructures, but also their size and surface properties.…”

Spraying Fabrication of Durable and Transparent Coatings for Anti-Icing Application: Dynamic Water Repellency, Icing Delay, and Ice Adhesion

“…The continuous vibration or thermal cycle certainly affects the service life of surface function materials; therefore, these strategies should be avoided or minimized in the future whenever possible. As an alternative, passive anti-icing materials have received widespread attentions in the last decade because of their “zero-energy” consumption − and it is considered to conform to the three typical features: excellent superhydrophobicity to repel the coming supercooled droplets, outstanding icing delay performance (or lower icing temperature), and ultralow ice adhesion. − As well known, freezing is an inevitable process under the condition of sufficient supercooling and the ultralow ice adhesion strength can allow the ice to be readily removed with the assistance of external force or even wind force and self-gravity. , …”

“…10−12 As well known, freezing is an inevitable process under the condition of sufficient supercooling and the ultralow ice adhesion strength can allow the ice to be readily removed with the assistance of external force or even wind force and selfgravity. 13,14 Currently, there are two main strategies to design the antiicing materials, that is, microscopic rough superhydrophobic surfaces and slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (denoted as SLIPSs). 15−18 On the basis of the ultraslippery characteristic and chemical homogeneity, the SLIPS exhibits extremely low wetting hysteresis and ice adhesion strength.…”

Coatings and Thin Films for Spacecraft Thermo‐Optical and Related Functional Applications

“…Shen et al prepared anti‐icing superhydrophobic aluminium surfaces by using a chemical etching method to plant a layer of petal‐shaped nanostructures on array micropatterns introduced with lithography. The etching and boiling stages of the surface preparation process were optimized to reach a contact angle of 164.31° and almost zero sliding angle.…”