Skin-inspired de-icing surface revolutionizes ice removal with durability and efficiency

Surface icing presents significant challenges across industries, impacting the performance of airplane wings, wind turbine blades, and high-voltage power lines. Ice accumulation not only disrupts normal operations but can also damage equipment. Traditional anti-icing methods, though effective to some extent, often suffer from poor durability and reduced performance under extreme weather conditions.

A research group led by Prof. Xu Deng from the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China proposed a novel approach to ice mitigation inspired by the natural structure of human skin. This study was published in National Science Review (NSR).

Drawing from the layered structure of human skin—with its soft dermis and subcutaneous tissues covered by a protective hard epidermis—the researchers developed a durable de-icing surface. This strategy creates a tough-skin de-icing surface by combining a thin, rigid top film with a soft substrate, inducing surface instability that generates extensive wrinkling at the ice-substrate interface. This design mimics the natural response of skin to external forces: the hard outer layer forms wrinkles under stress, helping distribute the ice-substrate interface effectively.

The surface employs a combination of large and small wrinkles to enhance de-icing performance. Large wrinkles initiate cracks at the ice edges, while smaller wrinkles accelerate crack propagation, ensuring complete ice detachment. Notably, this process occurs passively, allowing the ice to shed under its own weight without the need for external energy inputs.

This durable anti-icing surface achieves exceptional de-icing performance, with ice adhesion strength below 10 kPa. Environmental tests confirm its robustness and versatility, proving its effectiveness across a range of conditions. The surface design incorporates resilient materials that maintain low ice adhesion even after extended exposure to wind, rain, and UV radiation. Inspired by skin’s durability, this technology significantly reduces energy consumption and operational costs, making it ideal for long-term use in extreme weather.

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