Sebaceous gland-inspired self-lubricated de-icing coating by continuously secreting lubricants

In recent years, oil-contained deicing materials have aroused peoples' concern due to their weak ice adhesion feature. Yet the loss of lubricant on oil-contained surface caused by contact or volatilization should be considered. Oily sebum secreted by sebaceous glands lubricates and moisturizes our skin, and can be reproduced continuously even after daily cleaning. In this work, inspired by sebaceous glands, a self-lubricant (SL) coating with ultra-low ice adhesion and excellent deicing durability was designed via continuously secreting lubricants. To determine the suitable simulant of oily sebum, the tribological tests and theoretical simulation analysis of lubricant on ice were conducted, confirming the effect of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) lubricants. By well mixing lubricant and resin, and sebaceous glands-like structures formed in coating matrix after curing, which endowed coating with lubricant storage feature and sebum-like secretion structure. The affinity of PDMS molecules to ice and the regeneration of lubricant film ensured the deicing durability of coating. Ice adhesion strength can be kept below 100 kPa even after 100 icing-deicing cycles, and can recover low ice adhesion strength (~50 kPa) via lubricant secreting. This work highlights the importance of lubricant selection and gives a new vision to designing durable icephobic materials.