Superhydrophobic Surface Based on Assembly of Nanoparticles for Application in Anti-Icing under Ultralow Temperature

Abstract

A new class of superhydrophobic surface based on assembly of nanoparticles was fabricated for improving mechanical durability and anti-icing performance under ultralow temperature. Furthermore, the anti-icing performance and mechanism of the yielded superhydrophobic surface were investigated by high speed video and thermal infrared imaging equipment. The frozen time of water droplets could be prolonged to 372.0 s when glass slides with superhydrophobic surface were exposed to an ultralow temperature of −40.0 °C. This outstanding anti-icing performance is attributed to the unique structure of the superhydrophobic surface based on assembly of nanoparticles, which possesses good free-energy barrier and low heat transfer rate. This study thus opens up an avenue for the design and fabrication of superhydrophobic surface with good durability and anti-icing performance under ultralow temperature.