Preparation and Performance Characterization of Carbon Nanotube-Modified Particles for Photothermal Anti-icing Coatings

LYU Dajuan; YU Chenghao; HU Rui; LUO Xian

doi:10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2025.24.020

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Surface Technology ›› 2025, Vol. 54 ›› Issue (24) : 241-249. DOI: 10.16490/j.cnki.issn.1001-3660.2025.24.020

Surface Functionalization

Preparation and Performance Characterization of Carbon Nanotube-Modified Particles for Photothermal Anti-icing Coatings

LYU Dajuan¹, YU Chenghao², HU Rui^2,*, LUO Xian²

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Abstract

The work aims to develop a high-performance photothermal superhydrophobic anti-icing coating featuring a composite microstructure of silicon carbide particles (SiC_p) and clusterized microparticles (CMPs) made from multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The primary innovation is the dual-mode anti-icing strategy that effectively combines passive prevention with active removal, achieved via a simple and scalable one-step spray coating method. The fabrication process began with the hydrophobic modification of carboxylated MWCNTs with 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyltrimethoxysilane (FDTS). This critical step, confirmed by FTIR with the appearance of characteristic ester (C==O) and C-F peaks, induced the self-assembly of individual nanotubes into micro-sized CMPs. The coating suspension was prepared by dispersing specific mass ratios of SiCp to CMPs (3 : 1, 2 : 1, 1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 3) in ethyl acetate, followed by incorporating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and epoxy resin (EP) as dual binders before spraying onto aluminum substrates.
Extensive characterization revealed that the SiCp/CMPs mass ratio of 1 : 2 yielded optimal performance. SEM showed that this specific formulation created an ideal micro-nano hierarchical structure where CMPs formed interconnected, mountain-like assemblies with numerous micropores, while SiC_p contributed to the overall roughness. This unique architecture enabled superior superhydrophobicity, achieving a water contact angle of 158° and an extremely low rolling angle of 4.1°, facilitated by a stable Cassie-Baxter state with substantial air entrapment. The passive anti-icing performance was remarkably enhanced. The optimal coating delayed ice formation for 634 seconds at -15 ℃, representing a 5.6-fold improvement over untreated aluminum (96 s). This significant delay was attributed to the excellent thermal insulation provided by the trapped air within the microstructures. Furthermore, the coating demonstrated ultra-low ice adhesion strength of merely 38.3 kPa, compared to 196.5 kPa for bare aluminum. The reduction mechanism involved both the minimized solid-liquid contact area preventing mechanical interlocking and the mountain-like structures promoting stress concentration and micro-crack propagation at the ice-coating interface during detachment. For active de-icing, the coating exhibited outstanding photothermal performance under 1 sun illumination (1 kW/m²). The surface temperature of the SiC_p/CMPs 1 : 2 coating rapidly increased from 25 ℃ to 75 ℃ within 240 seconds, capable of melting an ice layer in approximately 23 seconds. This efficient photothermal conversion stemmed from the intrinsic broad-spectrum absorption of CMPs combined with enhanced light scattering and trapping within the rough surface topography. The study successfully balanced both anti-icing mechanisms, as the optimal formulation provided substantial photothermal response while maintaining the crucial microstructural features necessary for exceptional passive performance.
This work demonstrates a practical and efficient solution for ice protection that integrates passive anti-icing through carefully engineered surface topography with active photothermal de-icing functionality. The facile fabrication process, combined with the use of cost-effective materials and the demonstrated dual-mode protective capability, makes this coating highly promising for practical applications in preventing ice accretion on critical infrastructure such as power transmission lines, wind turbines, and aircraft surfaces.

Key words

superhydrophobic coating / micro-nano structure / photothermal de-icing / ice-delaying / low ice adhesion strength

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LYU Dajuan, YU Chenghao, HU Rui, LUO Xian. Preparation and Performance Characterization of Carbon Nanotube-Modified Particles for Photothermal Anti-icing Coatings[J]. Surface Technology. 2025, 54(24): 241-249

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