journal article·2026-02

Spectrally Engineered Hierarchical Nanocomposite Enabling Full‐Spectrum Solar‐Thermal Conversion and Dynamic Anti‐/De‐icing in Harsh Environments

Wenbin Hu, Haoqiang Sheng, WeiWei Zhao, Xiaofei Li, Shiyu Xu, Xiaobin Huang, Hong Liu

Small· Volume 22· Issue 7
Publisher page

Abstract

ABSTRACT Photo‐thermal de‐icing offers energy‐efficient, safe, and eco‐friendly solutions to combat ice accumulation—a critical hazard for aviation, energy, and infrastructure. However, state‐of‐the‐art photothermal materials (e.g., graphene, carbon nanotubes) rely predominantly on infrared absorption (molecular thermal vibrations), limiting thermal equilibrium temperatures under solar irradiation and hindering deployment. To overcome this fundamental spectral gap, we engineer copper nanorods functionalized via in situ growth of poly(hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene‐co‐4,4′‐sulfonyldiphenol). This strategy simultaneously enhances nanorod‐polymer substrate compatibility and exploits the photoluminescence of poly(hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene‐co‐4,4′‐sulfonyldiphenol) to convert ultraviolet light into wavelength‐resonant visible light, significantly boosting photothermal conversion via the localized surface plasmon resonance effect. Critically, integrating this system with polyaniline (a strong near‐infrared light absorber) and polyimide (a strong far‐infrared light absorber) yields, for the first time, a nanocomposite capable of full‐spectrum solar photothermal conversion. Under 1‐sun illumination (1 kW·m −2 ), it achieves a record‐high thermal equilibrium temperature difference of 65.1°C. When mounted on rotating three‐blade propellers, the nanocomposite enables rapid solar‐thermal de‐icing within 6 min. Remarkably, it also maintains effective anti‐icing performance under severe conditions simulating supercooled large droplets spray (−20°C, 62.57 µm droplet size), showcasing its potential for demanding real‐world environments. This spectrally engineered design establishes a blueprint for energy‐efficient dynamic de‐icing, offering scalable solutions for aerospace, wind energy, and polar infrastructure protection.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods · Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity · Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Aeronautics and Astronautics Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China

AVIC Research Institute for Special Structures of Aeronautical Composite Aviation Key Lab of Science and Technology on High Performance Electromagnetic Windows Jinan China

Chinese Aeronautical Establishment Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd. Beijing China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Aeronautical Science Foundation of China

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