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 (M MTP ) flexible films using laser processing and functional nanocomposites . The multiresponsive M MTP 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/cm 2 intensity. This heating property allows the films to maintain its superhydrophobicity even at temperatures as low as -30 °C. In addition, M MTP 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.