the intersection
The beauty of design comes in how the chemical research here can influence and benefit from the design of the vehicle itself.
the opportunities of an icephobic vehicle
Arctic vehicles are often used for the transport of either resources or people. With extreme weather conditions, the vehicle often travels slowly or may have to stop moving altogether in the middle of a journey. To have a vehicle that is entirely icephobic would protect the integrity of the vehicle for cleaning and for function. Just as houses are built in accordance with their environment, vehicles have the potential to be as well.
the icephobic components
the surface
The surface of the vehicle would be a nano-structured manufactured surface utilizing a geometric micro-texture that, using the chemistry of contact angle hysteresis, would perform as an icephobic and semi-superhydrophobic surface. Any exterteior surface that deviated from the vehicle's main surface (the solar panels, the ladder, and any other elements) will be covered in a more traditional icephobic coating. Both of these methods will be engrained in the construction of the surface material which avoids the engineering complications of de-icing techniques.
the glass
Recently, research has been conducted in China that, using MXene -SOPS multilayers that are assembled in ultra-thin pieces. This research has successfully assembled a transparent icephobic and superhydrophobic material that only costs 4.1 dollars per square meter. The material focuses on harnessing sun illumination, holding and generating heat with the illumination to prevent ice formation. The surface is also extremely slippery, so it performs as a superhydrophobic surface as well, liquids rolling off the surface on contact. The glass elements on the exterior of the vehicle will use this material.