A superrepellent coating with dynamic fluorine chains for frosting suppression: Effects of polarity, coalescence and ice nucleation free energy barrier

Takeo Moriya, Kengo Manabe, Mizuki Tenjimbayashi, Ken Suwabe, Hirotaka Tsuchiya, Takeshi Matsubayashi, Walter Navarrini, Seimei Shiratori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ice formation on surfaces is a serious issue in many different fields in terms of function, safety, and cost of operation in human life. Hydrophobic coating technology is one of the effective ways to prevent ice formation. Previous studies focused on the effects of surface structure and surface chemical modification on anti-icing ability. However, only a few studies have clarified a method to inhibit the initial formation of ice on surfaces; in addition, an effective mechanism for anti-frosting has not been identified as yet. Here, hydrophobic smooth surface coatings using three coupling agents with low surface energy and different molecular chain dynamics were fabricated. The surface roughnesses were lower than 1 nm. The fluorocarbon-based coatings delayed frost formation compared with the uncoated surface until -6 °C. We explored why the coating surface prevented frost formation and the effects of surface chemical modification on frost resistance from the viewpoint of heat exchange contact area during droplet coalescence, ice nucleation free energy barrier, polarity and polarizability of the coated surface.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)92197-92205
Number of pages9
JournalRSC Advances
Volume6
Issue number95
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Chemical Engineering(all)

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