Integrated Anti-Icing Property of Super-Repellency and Electrothermogenesis Exhibited by PEDOT:PSS/Cyanoacrylate Composite Nanoparticles

Ice formation causes numerous problems in many industrial fields as well as in our daily life. Various functional anti-ice coatings have been extensively studied during the past several decades; however, the development of feasible ice-repellent surfaces with long-term stability has been found to be extremely difficult. Here, we report the conductive superhydrophobic coatings with freezing rain repellency that simultaneously possess electrothermogenic ability to rapidly melt newly formed frosts due to the Joule heat. The obtained films have high mechanical flexibility and abrasion resistance produced by composite nanoparticles of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) embedded in ethyl cyanoacrylate. In addition, excellent water repellency (corresponding contact angle >160°) and efficient heating ability (with an estimated energy consumption as low as 260.8 °C cm2/W) generated by applying voltage through the conductive film surface have been demonstrated. The proposed concept of combining super-repellency with electrothermal heating may provide a new strategy of addressing problems related to ice formation.