title: Energy-effective frost-free coatings based on superhydrophobic aligned nanocones.
abstract: We demonstrate the feasibility of superhydrophobic aligned nanocones as energy-effective frost-free coatings. Exemplified by Co(OH)2 nanocone films with condensed microdrop self-removal ability, their edge and whole-surface frosting time can be delayed to about 10 and 150 min, respectively. By using a Teflon gasket to shield edges, the samples can keep frost-free state over 90 min. Further, the lasting frost-free state can be realized by intermittent weak airflow heating, which is energy-effective in contrast to usual high-power heating for defrosting flat surfaces. These findings are significant to develop antifrosting nanotechnologies for energy-effective heat exchangers such as heat pumps and refrigerators.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Thermal Nanomaterials and Devices Research Group, Nanobionic Division, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 215123 Suzhou, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao