Water-Based Robust Transparent Superamphiphobic Coatings for Resistance to Condensation, Frosting, Icing, and Fouling

Due to the considerable demand for improving energy conservation and emission reduction, superhydrophobic coatings mainly derived from organic solvents have attracted significant interest, based on their potential role in enhancing heat transfer. Although water-based coatings are relatively safe and economical, and contain low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the realization of coatings with excellent anti-condensation, anti-frosting, anti-icing, and passive self-cleaning properties remains challenging, owing to the Wenzel state of small-sized condensate microdrops. Herein, a water-based transparent superamphiphobic coating is developed through a single-step spraying method performed at ambient temperature using water and liquid rheological additives to disperse fluorinated SiO2 nanochains. The coating exhibits resistance to damage induced by low- and high-temperature processing, chemical solution attacks, outdoor exposure, and freeze-thaw cycles. Most importantly, the porous structure consisting of nanopores and sub-micropores, results in the suppression of condensation, frosting, and icing as well as facile removal of condensate micro-drops, sparse frost, and ice. Furthermore, fouling can be eliminated via condensation or a cycle of frosting and defrosting utilizing the moisture in the air. The findings of this study may represent a significant advance in long-term, efficient, and low-VOC superamphiphobic technologies for large-scale applications.