A heat exchange interface at subzero temperature in a water vaporenvironment, exhibits high probability of frost formation due to freezingcondensation, a factor that markedly decreases the heat transfer efficacy dueto the considerable thermal resistance of ice. Here we report a novel strategyto delay ice nucleation on these types of solid-water vapor interfaces. With aprocess-driven mechanism, a self-generated liquid intervening layer immiscibleto water, is deposited on a textured superhydrophobic surface and acts as abarrier between the water vapor and the solid substrate. This liquid layerimparts remarkable slippery conditions resulting in high mobility of condensingwater droplets. A large increase of the ensuing ice coverage time is showncompared to the cases of standard smooth hydrophilic or texturedsuperhydrophobic surfaces. During deicing of these self-impregnating surfaceswe show an impressive tendency of ice fragments to skate expediting defrosting.Robustness of such surfaces is also demonstrated by operating them undersubcooling for at least 490hr without a marked degradation. This is attributedto the presence of the liquid intervening layer, which protects the substratefrom hydrolyzation enhancing longevity and sustaining heat transfer efficiency.
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