Electro- and Magneto-Responsive Superhydrophobic Shape Memory Coating Based on a Textile Electrode for Anti-Icing/Deicing Applications

Abstract

Multi-response superhydrophobic coating of the textile electrodes show great promise for anti-icing and deicing applications; however, multi-response and mechanical abrasion often compromise their long-term hydrophobic stability and durability. Herein, we fabricate a superhydrophobic textile electrode (SMP-HFe-C@APT) by integrating conductive MWCNT/MXene network (C) onto an etched polyester fabric (APT), followed by spraying Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified with hydrolyzed octadecyltrimethoxysilane (OTMS, denoted as HFe), and then by coating with a shape memory polymer (SMP). The resulting electrode exhibits excellent superhydrophobicity (WCA = 162.3 ± 0.5°), prolonged icing delay (1241 ± 10 s), and rapid deicing (82 s) under synergistic dual electrothermal and magnetothermal response. Covalent bonding between HFe nanoparticles and the SMP matrix reduces the glass transition temperature to 15.8 ± 0.5 °C, establishing a modulus mismatch between the softened SMP coating and the rigid ice droplets, and accelerating ice detachment. Additionally, the combination of highly absorptive inner layers (C and HFe) and a reflective SMP outer layer gives rise to an internal thermal cycling, which enhances heat confinement and utilization during deicing. The thermal effect simultaneously induces EP (epoxy resin) and PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) molecular rearrangement in the SMP coating, enabling recovery of nano-material microstructure and low surface energy. This work provides a new strategy for fabricating durable anti-icing and deicing coatings that integrate interfacial thermal management and dynamic self-healing.