Robust superhydrophobic SiO2/HWCNTs@EP composite coating with anti-icing and photothermal deicing properties

Photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces have garnered significant attention for their exceptional anti-icing and photothermal deicing capabilities. However, the shortcomings of stability and fabrication complexity limit their practical application. This work designed and fabricated a SiO 2 /HWCNTs@EP composite coating that combines robust stability, anti-icing/deicing performance, and facile preparation. During fabrication, the SiO 2 and HWCNTs ratio was systematically optimized by evaluating wettability, photothermal conversion capability, and anti-icing/deicing performance. The composite coating in the ratio of SiO 2 /HWCNTs 1:1 exhibited a water CA of 156.7°, demonstrating superhydrophobicity. HWCNTs assemble to form nano-papillary structures on the surface of SiO 2 particles, generating hierarchical micro/nano structures that enable exceptional light absorption. Photothermal testing revealed a maximum temperature increase of 69 °C (reached in 360 s) under one sun intensity. The composite coating demonstrated a prolonged droplet freezing time of 1026 s at −15 °C. Photothermal deicing testing achieved complete ice melting and detachment within 44 s. Notably, the composite coating retained its superhydrophobicity after mechanical abrasion, chemical corrosion, and high-temperature testing, attributed to uniform nanofiller dispersion and dense interactions within the epoxy resin, ensuring exceptional stability. This work provides novel insights for designing stable photothermal superhydrophobic coatings with dual anti-icing/deicing functionality, contributing to the development of energy-efficient ice mitigation technologies.