Facile synthesis and anti-icing performance of superhydrophobic flower-like OTS-SiO2 with tunable size

The superhydrophobic flower-like OTS-SiO 2 particles with tunable size were synthesized for application in anti-icing technology, in which the nanosilica fibers were grown on surface of SiO 2 sphere. Furthermore, the anti-icing process of flower-like OTS-SiO 2 particles was investigated by a high speed video and thermal infrared imaging equipment. It was found that the flower-like OTS-SiO 2 particles with a diameter of 300.0 nm showed best anti-icing ability, in which the frozen time of water droplets could be prolonged to 564.0 s at −25.0℃. The good anti-icing ability was attributed to micro-nano hierarchical structure and surface modification of flower-like OTS-SiO 2 particles. The work has an important guiding implication for the subsequent design and preparation of superhydrophobic particles for application in anti-icing technology.