Anti-icing properties of nonionic/hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen-state analysis

Abstract Anti-icing surfaces are important to prevent snow and ice accumulation, which can pose significant risks. Here, we analyze the anti-icing performance of concentrated polymer brushes (CPBs) consisting of a versatile nonionic/hydrophilic monomer and discuss the low-temperature properties of t...

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Main Authors: Ken Tamamoto, Yuji Kinose, Hikaru Okubo, Ken Nakano, Yoshinobu Tsujii
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-02-01
Series:Communications Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00732-3
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author Ken Tamamoto
Yuji Kinose
Hikaru Okubo
Ken Nakano
Yoshinobu Tsujii
author_facet Ken Tamamoto
Yuji Kinose
Hikaru Okubo
Ken Nakano
Yoshinobu Tsujii
author_sort Ken Tamamoto
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Anti-icing surfaces are important to prevent snow and ice accumulation, which can pose significant risks. Here, we analyze the anti-icing performance of concentrated polymer brushes (CPBs) consisting of a versatile nonionic/hydrophilic monomer and discuss the low-temperature properties of the CPB-retaining water. The anti-icing functionality is evaluated by measuring the ice adhesion strength as a function of the temperature and the structural parameters (e.g., density and length) of the polymer brushes. We demonstrate that only the CPB region (σ* ≥ 0.15) exhibits both high anti-icing functionality and excellent durability. Furthermore, the thickening of the CPBs is key to achieving a detailed characterization of the water present in the CPBs at low temperatures using in situ microscopic Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. These results suggest that the water effectively remaining via quasi-equilibrium partial deswelling formed a lubricating layer, contributing to high anti-icing functionality and durability.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2662-4443
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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spelling doaj-art-43e66ba02515422cb3132bd881d535012025-02-09T12:47:09ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Materials2662-44432025-02-01611910.1038/s43246-025-00732-3Anti-icing properties of nonionic/hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen-state analysisKen Tamamoto0Yuji Kinose1Hikaru Okubo2Ken Nakano3Yoshinobu Tsujii4Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto UniversityInstitute for Chemical Research, Kyoto UniversityFaculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National UniversityFaculty of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National UniversityInstitute for Chemical Research, Kyoto UniversityAbstract Anti-icing surfaces are important to prevent snow and ice accumulation, which can pose significant risks. Here, we analyze the anti-icing performance of concentrated polymer brushes (CPBs) consisting of a versatile nonionic/hydrophilic monomer and discuss the low-temperature properties of the CPB-retaining water. The anti-icing functionality is evaluated by measuring the ice adhesion strength as a function of the temperature and the structural parameters (e.g., density and length) of the polymer brushes. We demonstrate that only the CPB region (σ* ≥ 0.15) exhibits both high anti-icing functionality and excellent durability. Furthermore, the thickening of the CPBs is key to achieving a detailed characterization of the water present in the CPBs at low temperatures using in situ microscopic Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. These results suggest that the water effectively remaining via quasi-equilibrium partial deswelling formed a lubricating layer, contributing to high anti-icing functionality and durability.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00732-3
spellingShingle Ken Tamamoto
Yuji Kinose
Hikaru Okubo
Ken Nakano
Yoshinobu Tsujii
Anti-icing properties of nonionic/hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen-state analysis
Communications Materials
title Anti-icing properties of nonionic/hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen-state analysis
title_full Anti-icing properties of nonionic/hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen-state analysis
title_fullStr Anti-icing properties of nonionic/hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen-state analysis
title_full_unstemmed Anti-icing properties of nonionic/hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen-state analysis
title_short Anti-icing properties of nonionic/hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen-state analysis
title_sort anti icing properties of nonionic hydrophilic concentrated polymer brushes and mechanistic insights via their swollen state analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00732-3
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