Mechanically robust anti-fingerprint coating on polycarbonate substrate

Mechanical robustness is required for a wide range of protective coatings for their long-term usage. It is particularly crucial for the coatings on polymeric substrates to maintain the surface free of contamination such as dust and fingerprint. Here, we have developed an effective fabrication method to prepare amphiphobic anti-fingerprint coating on polycarbonate (PC) substrates. Thin films with porous silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles were deposited via pulse laser deposition on plasma pre-treated PC substrate. After the coating is applied, trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl) silane (PFTS) was assembled on the silica surface. The as-prepared PFTS-treated silica coating is superhydrophobic with water contact angle at 155.2 ± 1.8° and highly oleophobic with a contact angle of 133.6 ± 3.3° with diiodomethane. The coating also displays excellent adhesion with the PC substrate. The developed room temperature deposition process makes it potentially applicable for other low melting point polymeric substrates towards a wider range of functional surface applications.