Linker-free grafting of fluorinated polymeric cross-linked network bilayers for durable reduction of ice adhesion

Ice formation and accumulation on surfaces can result in severe problems for solar photovoltaics, offshore oil platforms, wind turbines, and aircra. Practical adoption of icephobic surfaces requires mechanical robustness and stability under the harsh real-world environments. Here we design an icephobic surface using a bilayer strategy, optimizing the base layer for mechanical properties, while the top layer provides the desired high receding water contact angle (WCA). Both layers are formed sequentially Thin films of bilayer poly(divinyl benzene) p(DVB)/poly(perfluorodecylacrylate) (p-PFDA) are synthesized via iCVD on steel and silicon substrates. Nanomechanical measurements reveal that the elastic modulus and hardness of the films are enhanced through the bilayer structure and that the adhesion of the films to the substrate is improved via in situ grafting mechanism. The strength of ice adhesion to the treated surfaces is reduced more than six-fold when the substrates are coated with these bilayer polymer networks.