Bioinspired solar anti-icing/de-icing surfaces based on phase-change materials

Solar anti-icing/de-icing is an environmentally friendly way to convert light energy into heat with the purpose of melting/removing ice. However, the inherent intermittency of solar irradiation limits the application of solar-thermal energy-conversion technologies, when continuous de-icing is required. Herein, we investigate a solar phase-change material (SPCM) that consists of expanded graphite (EG)/paraffin/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which can not only perform the solar-thermal conversion but also release/store thermal energy. Under sunlight, the SPCM effectively collects and converts the light energy into thermal energy for later anti-icing/de-icing. To prepare for a no-light period, e.g., in the evening, the converted thermal energy can be stored in the SPCM using a phase transition. In this way, the energy can be released when needed to keep the temperature of a surface from freezing. The SPCM surface shows excellent anti-icing/de-icing properties such as a long droplet freeze-delay time (t_d > 2 h), even at an ultra-low temperature (−40°C), using only the light of one sun. This freeze-delay time is much longer than that for a surface without PCM. The tested SPCM surfaces show a high de-icing rate (2.21 kg m⁻² h⁻¹) under real-life conditions. In addition, the SPCM shows a high de-icing rate and excellent durability. This study provides a promising route for the utilization of solar energy in anti-icing/de-icing applications.