Initial Stages of Water Absorption on CeO2 Surfaces at Very Low Temperatures for Understanding Anti-Icing Coatings
Abstract
Anti-icing coatings are intended to prevent ice formation on surfaces, minimising the risk of surface-related damage and also reducing ice-related hazards in society. CeO2 coatings are robust, hydrophobic, and transmit light, thus they are suitable for a range of applications. However, their evolving surface chemistry during the initial stages of H2O exposure at very low temperatures has not been investigated, despite that this is important for understanding their anti-icing properties. To study this, CeO2 coatings were grown by sputter deposition, cooled to ≈100\,K and exposed to a H2O atmosphere at 1×10-8\,mbar. We demonstrate the usefulness of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as a tool for investigating the anti-icing properties of surfaces. We present XPS measurements of CeO2 coatings before and after exposure to H2O, in-situ and at cryogenic temperatures. XPS reveals that little to no ice forms on the surface of CeO2 after the H2O exposure at ≈100\,K. In contrast, ice was observed all over the sample holder on which the CeO2 was mounted. These findings suggest that CeO2 is a promising candidate for future anti-icing coatings.
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