Icing and chemical pollution sensor based on carbon nanoparticles-based superhydrophobic coating

A method of using a section of a superhydrophobic coating based on xerogel made out of carbon nanotubes and carbon-like onions as an icing sensor was suggested. The obtained dependencies of the conductivity of the coating on the state of the environment are not linear, but unambiguous. They allow to track changes in the environmental conditions. The sensitivity of the coating to volatile substances adsorbed by the surface of the carbon nanoparticles was revealed. Selection ways of the influence of ice and pollutants were suggested. The coating area serves as a protective surface and a detector, and its dual purpose not only simplifies the anti-icing system, but also allows it to potentially work as a chemical sensor aimed at detecting contaminants. The dimensions of the sensitive areas are determined by the reliability of local data and the sensitivity of the surface resistance measurement circuit, and therefore can vary quite freely. Samples with an area from 10 to 0.5 square centimeter were used in the work.