Expanding Transparent Covalently Attached Liquid-Like Surfaces for Icephobic Coatings with Broad Substrate Compatibility

Abstract

Ice accretion causes significant energy losses and safety risks across various sectors. Recent research shows that liquid-like surfaces (LLS) with ice-shedding properties can be created by covalently attaching linear polymer chains onto smooth substrates with sufficient hydroxyl group densities. To expand the substrate scope for LLS, a novel system using non-halogenated organosilanes attached to a commercial epoxy-silicon (EpSi) coating is proposed. The EpSi layer, easily applied using simple methods, serves as a smooth intermediate layer (Ra = 0.94 nm and Rq = 0.76 nm). Air plasma activation increases hydroxyl density on EpSi, enabling LLS formation via simple immersion in an organosilane solution. The resulting coating exhibits low contact angle hysteresis (<10°), sliding angle (SA < 14°), and ice adhesion strength (τice < 20 kPa). Effective LLS is generated regardless of substrate type, coating thickness, or application method. The coating retains its slippery properties after exposure to harsh conditions, including icing/deicing cycles, organic solvents, and acidic environment. It is also highly transparent (Tave = 84.5%, t = 500 µm) with self-cleaning and anti-staining capabilities. This methodology broadens the substrate scope of LLS, offering a sustainable solution to ice accretion challenges.