Developments in photothermal conversion could lead to safer, more efficient deicing

Unwanted icing poses a substantial threat to infrastructure and vehicles and can lead to catastrophic incidents. Current deicing techniques are typically energy-intensive and environmentally damaging. Researchers are now exploring photothermal conversion, a promising low-energy approach where sunlight is harnessed to melt ice.

Hao et al. discussed recent developments in photothermal conversion materials and the light-trapping structures that improve their efficiency. They also described mechanisms for employing these materials, aiming to provide a roadmap for future anti-icing applications.

“We provided valuable insights into the design of photothermal materials that will accelerate the development of photothermal deicing in practical applications,” said author Ximin He. “We also offer important guidelines for researchers to connect their future studies to neglected subjects. Simultaneously, we seek to increase the public awareness of the technical challenges and research efforts surrounding photothermal conversion.”

One development highlighted by the researchers is the solar anti-icing/deicing (SADI) surface, a cost-effective technique that concentrates solar energy to melt ice. Another is the “photothermal+" strategy, which combines photothermal deicing with other deicing methods to achieve better performance and compensates disadvantages of limited light absorption under zero- or low-light conditions.

“While current techniques focus on the integration of various photothermal materials with high photothermal absorption and photothermal efficiency, the risk of overheating temperature poses a significant danger,” said author Zhiyuan He. “Therefore, the design of photothermal coatings that could dissipate heat spontaneously — while challenging — is highly encouraged.”

They hope to inspire a focus on improving the transparency of photothermal deicing coatings for broader applications, such as windows, electronic displays, and solar cells.

Source: “Photothermal strategies for ice accretion prevention and ice removal,” by Tongtong Hao, Dan Wang, Xiaoting Chen, Abdullatif Jazzar, Pengju Shi, Cunyi Li, Heran Wang, Ximin He and Zhiyuan He, Applied Physics Reviews (2023). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0148288 .