A photothermal superhydrophobic coating with un-fluorinated modified CNTs for anti-icing applications on concrete.

• Proposed a simple and un-fluorinated superhydrophobic modification method for CNTs. • A modified CNTs/ epoxy coating with water contact angle of 151° was prepared on concrete surface. • The coating temperature rapidly increased from −10 ℃ to 81 ℃ under one sunlight intensity. • The freezing time of water droplets on the concrete surface had been extended from 55 s to 680 s. The problem of easy icing and difficult anti-icing on concrete pavement has prompted using superhydrophobic coatings as a potential solution. However, the coatings are prone to wetting failure after repeated icing-deicing cycles. In this study, a superhydrophobic and photothermal coating consisting of unfluorinated modified-carbon nanotubes (M-CNTs) and commercial epoxy is constructed by a simple spray process on concrete for anti-icing. Incorporating M-CNTs imparts the coating with exceptional superhydrophobic and photothermal characteristics, endowing the coating surface with excellent deicing under sunlight irradiation. The contact angle of the coating reaches 151° at −10 °C, and the freezing time extends from 55 s to 680 s. Under one sunlight intensity, the coating temperature rapidly increases from −10 ℃ to 81 ℃, and the ice changes from solid to liquid. It effectively acts as a barrier between water and the concrete surface, making it highly suitable and valuable in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]