A method for preparing and investigating anti-/de-icing surface by integration of laser-induced graphene (LIG) with a silica sol adhesive (SMP@M-SiO2)

The ice accumulation has a significant negative impact on device/system functions, and the emergence of anti−/de-icing coatings has greatly improved this problem. However, the ideal ice-free state cannot be achieved by hydrophobic properties alone. In this study, we developed a method for developing a composite electro/photo-thermal (active) and superhydrophobic (passive) anti-/de-icing coating by laser-induced graphene (LIG) and post-modification with silica sol adhesive on selected underlying substrates. The composite coating consisted of the bottom layer of LIG, which played a role in constructing a porous skeleton structure and photothermal-electrothermal conversion; and a top layer of silica sol adhesive (SMP@M-SiO2) was used for bond strength enhancement and hydrophobic modification of the LIG. At −10 °C, the freezing time of water droplets on the SMP@M-SiO2@LIG surface was delayed about 14 times, and the ice adhesion strength decreased by 69.8 % when compared with the glass substrate surface. In addition, under one solar irradiation, the SMP@M-SiO2–5@LIG surface temperature rose to 56.5 °C in 900 s, which led to 21.5 times increase in delaying icing time when compared to the bare substrate. At a low DC voltage of 15 V, the temperature of the coating reached 177.1 °C in 60 s. At −20 °C, the developed surface showed no signs of freezing and achieved rapid de-icing and de-frosting in 6 s. The wide applicability of the SMP@M-SiO2–5@LIG surface was demonstrated on glass, plastics, metals, and ceramic substrates. The developed surface combining superhydrophobic passive anti-icing and electro/photo-thermal active de-icing properties is expected to be further applied in various prospective applications.