Photo- and Electro-Responsive Super-Slippery Oleogel Coating for Ultra-Low Temperature Ice-Phobic Applications

Polar regions hold significant potential for energy and resource development, but extreme temperatures and persistent ice pose challenges to commercial shipping, resource exploration, and scientific research. Here, a super-slippery oleogel ice-phobic coating (CP_U80@L-Ppy) with ultra-low temperature applicability is developed using expanded lamellar graphite networks and temperature-controlled deformed microspheres modified with linear polypyrrole. The ice adhesion strength at −30 °C is reduced to ≈ 3.76 kPa in the horizontal shear mode and remains below 10 kPa after 231 icing/shear detachment cycles. At ultra-low temperatures (−100–−70 °C), the ice adhesion strength stays below 30 kPa due to the vertical modulus mismatch between the ice and coating, along with the tangential modulus mismatch between the surface components. The coating also exhibits photo- and electro-responsive anti-icing/ice-phobic functionalities, broadening its potential for all-weather applications. Under “1 sun” irradiation at −30 °C, rapid defrosting (1 min) and ice detachment (2.8 min) are achieved. Additionally, electro-responsive defrosting and ice detachment periods of 1.4 and 2.6 min, respectively, are obtained using only two standard batteries in series (3.5 V) at −15 °C, demonstrating high energy efficiency. This work offers a promising strategy for developing efficient ice-phobic technologies suited to ultra-cold environments, with practical potential for polar applications.