Analysis of Anti-Icing Performance and Wear Resistance of Carbon-Based Composite Silica Superhydrophobic Coatings

Superhydrophobic surfaces have shown broad application prospects in many fields due to their unique performance, and their durability research has also attracted widespread attention. In this work, we developed a series of SiO 2 /carbon-based composite superhydrophobic coatings by incorporating carbon fibers (CF) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) into a silica sol matrix. Systematic characterization reveals that the hierarchical surface morphology, enhanced by the synergistic effect of SiO 2 nanoparticles and carbon fillers, imparts excellent anti-icing and self-cleaning functionalities. Specifically, the SiO 2 /carbon composites exhibit significantly delayed icing transition times at -10 °C and -15 °C compared to pristine glass. Notably, the SiO 2 /CNT/CF ternary composite demonstrates superior mechanical robustness and structural integrity, maintaining a contact angle (CA) >150° even after 10 freeze-thaw cycles. With the exception of the SiO 2 /CF system, these composites show remarkable frost resistance, suggesting that the precise integration of conductive carbon nanostructures is critical for optimizing the durability and thermal management of superhydrophobic surfaces in extreme cold environments. In addition, the composite coating has shown significant self-cleaning advantages in multiple tests, and can remove dust and particles when water droplets roll.