Fluorine modification on titanium dioxide particles: Improving the anti-icing performance through a very hydrophobic surface

Yanli Qi, Shuangjun Chen, Jun Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, fluorine modification was successfully conducted on titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) to enhance the anti-icing property through fabricating a very hydrophobic surface. TiO 2 was firstly modified with 3-methacryloxypropyl-trimethoxysilane (MPS) to introduce C[dbnd]C bonds. Then, dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (DFHMA) monomers were successfully grafted on the TiO 2 particles via C[dbnd]C bonds introduced by MPS. Herein, azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was used as initiator to initiate the reaction. The chemical components of the TiO 2 particles were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis of fluorine-modified TiO 2 revealed that the fluorine content reached a peak value of 7.3%, while the water contact angle enhanced to a maximum value of 146°. This water contact angle value of 146° was dramatically increased by 131° in comparison with unmodified TiO 2 , indicating a very hydrophobic surface. The crystallization temperature of a water droplet on the corresponding fluorine-modified TiO 2 decreased to −19.4 °C (10.3 °C decrease in comparison with that of a water droplet on unmodified TiO 2 ). Also, the freezing delay time on the fluorine-modified TiO 2 is more than 25 min under the testing temperature of −10 °C, exhibiting excellent anti-icing property.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-173
Number of pages13
JournalApplied Surface Science
Volume476
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 May 2019

Keywords

  • Anti-icing property
  • Azobisisobutyronitrile
  • Dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate
  • Fluorine modification
  • Titanium dioxide

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