Low-cost preparation of durable, transparent, superhydrophobic coatings with excellent environmental stability and self-cleaning function

Transparent nanoparticle-based superhydrophobic coatings can be utilized in a variety of real-word applications. However, one major challenge that limits the practical applications in large-scale manufacturing is their poor durability or complicated fabrication procedures. Herein, we develop a simple and low-cost technique based on spin-coating to prepare double-layer structured superhydrophobic surfaces, where modified nanoparticles are attached to a semi-cured rough nanoparticle-epoxy layer. The average optical transmittance of the prepared coatings was 97.6% with pristine glass or PET as the substrates. The resultant water-repellent surfaces yield a static water contact angle of 153.4°±1.7° and sliding angle of 5.1°±1.1°. The nanocomposite surfaces also retain water repellency after tape-peeling, water jet impact, mechanical bending, heat treatment, HCl immersing, and UV irradiation, which makes the prepared surfaces sustainable in the case of outdoor situations. Further, the outstanding superhydrophobicity and durability of the coatings enable their excellent self-cleaning function. We envisage a combination of these attractive properties may provide a practical route for potential transparent applications.