Sign in Subscribe
Energy conservation

Breakthrough in Anti-Icing Technology: Researchers Develop Hydrophobic Photothermal Cilia

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Scientists at Xi'an Jiaotong University in China have made a significant contribution to the field of nanotechnology by developing a new type of anti-icing surface. The researchers have created a hydrophobic photothermal surface covered with cilia, including mesoporous shell-core Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which rapidly heat up and achieve a significant temperature difference of 52°C at a solar radiation intensity. This innovative design has shown promising results in retaining water from freezing even at -10°C.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers developed a hydrophobic photothermal surface covered with cilia, including mesoporous shell-core Fe3O4 nanoparticles, which rapidly heat up and achieve a significant temperature difference of 52°C at a solar radiation intensity.
  • The mesoporous design of nanoparticles improved light absorption efficiency, allowing the surface to remain unfrozen even at -10°C under light irradiation at 0.03 W/cm².
  • Molecular dynamic simulation revealed that the siloxane chains within the ciliary structure penetrate and entangle with photothermal mesoporous nanoparticles.
  • The microscale mechanism of ice heterogeneous nucleation and growth on the surface of cilia was revealed using molecular dynamic simulation.
  • The research has significant implications for the development of de-icing technologies, as it provides valuable insights into anti-icing surface design.
  • The study was funded by the Taihu Lake Innovation Fund for the School of Future Technology of Xi'an Jiaotong University, China, the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
  • The additional authors for this research include Yuhao Wu, Shihe Hu, Zeyu Ma, Shan Lu, Zheng Wang, Xiaodong Huang, Mingwei Ding, Guangneng Dong, Sheng Li, and Xuefeng Bai.

Statistics:

  • The temperature difference achieved by the researchers was 52°C at a solar radiation intensity.
  • The surface remained unfrozen even at -10°C under light irradiation at 0.03 W/cm².
  • The siloxane chains within the ciliary structure penetrate and entangle with photothermal mesoporous nanoparticles.
  • The microscale mechanism of ice heterogeneous nucleation and growth on the surface of cilia was revealed using molecular dynamic simulation.

Sources:

  • NewsRx, Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong University Target Nanoparticles (Hydrophobic Photothermal Cilia for Anti-icing/deicing and Insight From Its Molecular Dynamics Simulation). Journal of Physics Research. November 4, 2025; p 1785.
  • Hydrophobic Photothermal Cilia for Anti-icing/deicing and Insight From Its Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Applied Surface Science, 2025;708.
  • Applied Surface Science can be contacted at: Elsevier, Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands.
  • Xi'an Jiaotong University, Inst Design Sci & Basic Components, School of Mechanical Engineering, Key Lab Educ Minist Modern Design & Rotor Bearing, Xian 710049, People's Republic of China.

Read more