**6. Future Outlook**

There are three reasons why we should be seeking for affordable and long-term solutions against icing and snowing of power grids, a major problem that has attracted a global effort.


While active (heating, chemicals, and mechanical methods) solutions are widely used to remove ice or snow, passive solutions by nanotechnology are expected to affect the antiicing industry. Although coating solutions are already available, research in this area still needs to be pursued. Ongoing research will increase our knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms through which nanoparticles interact with freezing rains.

Key challenges include icing prevention for extended periods thereby decreasing the risk of potential damage to infrastructure and outdoor structures and concomitant lowering of related maintenance and replacement costs. Encapsulated phase change materials and superhydrophobicity [31] achieved by texturing a surface to develop novel coating platforms are promising candidates for developing robust anti-icing materials. Smart materials with a self-sustainable lubricating layer, achieved via modifying solid substrates or self-healing ones are also interesting alternatives [32]. The impact can be significant as various areas from the power grids to aerospace and sea vessels can benefit from the research results.

**Author Contributions:** Data collection and analysis, original draft preparation, Sections 2–5, S.B.; abstract, Sections 1 and 6, general review and editing, I.F. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This research received no external funding.

**Institutional Review Board Statement:** Not applicable.

**Informed Consent Statement:** Not applicable.

**Data Availability Statement:** Not applicable.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
