Fabrication of photo-responsive self-deicing surface with micro-nano rough structures on fabrics

Photothermal superhydrophobic treatment is an effective anti-icing and de-icing method, avoiding damage to equipment caused by ice accumulation in winter. However, the traditional photothermal materials were expensive and the photothermal conversion coatings are hard to remove when unnecessary. Herein, three biochar microspheres with solid, hollow, and flower-like structures (SBMs, HBMs, FBMs) were fabricated to construct photothermal superhydrophobic coatings on the polyester fabric (PET), respectively. The photothermal conversion efficiency of the coating constructed with flower-like biochar microspheres (FBMs@PPF) reached 95.42 %, and the ice (500 μL) can be completely melted into water under a simulated solar light source (1000 W/m 2 , −10 ℃) for 5 min. The water contact angle (WCA) and rolling angle (RA) on FBMs@PPF reached 162.6° and 1.5° respectively. Droplets can slide off the coating easily with a tilt angle (> 1.5°). The coating prepared by flower-like biochar microspheres exhibited greater photo-responsive self-deicing ability. The covered fabric coating can be removed easily, which may provide a useful reference for the prevention of frost disasters.