title: Exceptional Anti-Icing Performance of Self-Impregnating Slippery Surfaces.
abstract: A heat exchange interface at subzero temperature in a water vapor environment exhibits high probability of frost formation due to freezing condensation, a factor that markedly decreases the heat transfer efficacy due to the considerable thermal resistance of ice. Here we report a novel strategy to delay ice nucleation on these types of solid-water vapor interfaces. With a process-driven mechanism, a self-generated liquid intervening layer immiscible to water is deposited on a textured superhydrophobic surface and acts as a barrier between the water vapor and the solid substrate. This liquid layer imparts remarkable slippery conditions resulting in high mobility of condensing water droplets. A large increase of the ensuing ice coverage time is shown compared to the cases of standard smooth hydrophilic or textured superhydrophobic surfaces. During deicing of these self-impregnating surfaces we show an impressive tendency of ice fragments to skate expediting defrosting. Robustness of such surfaces is also demonstrated by operating them under subcooling for at least 490 h without a marked degradation. This is attributed to the presence of the liquid intervening layer, which protects the substrate from hydrolyzation, enhancing longevity and sustaining heat transfer efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Mechanical and Process Engineering Department, ETH Zürich , Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8482-1150
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stamatopoulos
authors.affiliation: ABB Switzerland, Corporate Research , Segelhofstrasse 1K, 5405 Baden-Daetwill, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hemrle
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Mechanical and Process Engineering Department, ETH Zürich , Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Danhong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies, Mechanical and Process Engineering Department, ETH Zürich , Sonneggstrasse 3, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Dimos
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5733-6478
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poulikakos
keywords: anti-icing; depinning; freezing condensation; intervening layer; self-impregnation