Just tape, a candle, and oil: design and fabrication of a homemade stretchable tape that prevents ice adhesion

Unwanted icing has major safety and economic repercussions on human activities, affecting means of transportation, infrastructures, and consumer goods. Compared to the common deicing methods in use today, intrinsically icephobic surfaces can decrease ice accumulation and formation without any active intervention from humans or machines. However, such systems often require complex fabrication methods and can be costly, which limits their applicability. In this study, we report the preparation and characterization of a series of slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs) realized by impregnating with silicone oil a candle soot layer deposited on double-sided 3M adhesive tape. Despite the use of common household items, these SLIPSs showed anti-icing performance comparable to other systems described in the literature (ice adhesion < 20 kPa) and a good resistance to mechanical and environmental damages. To improve the overall performances, we explored several design solutions involving surface functionalization of the inner pores and the use of fluorinated lubricants. The use of a flexible and functional substrate as tape allowed these devices to be stretchable without suffering significant degradation and highlights how these systems can be easily prepared and applied anywhere needed. In addition, the possibility of deforming the substrate can pave the way for the application of SLIPS technology in mechanical ice removal methodologies, drastically incrementing their performance.