Robust, anti-icing, and anti-fouling superhydrophobic coatings enabled by water-based coating solution

Superhydrophobic coatings have a wide range of applications in all areas of our lives, however, poor mechanical robustness limits their practical use. The use of organic solvents to prepare coatings can pose safety and environment pollution problems, also increase the cost of production. Water-based coating solution is used to prepare superhydrophobic coatings, which are safe and easy to scale. Thus, we demonstrate that silica nanoparticles, fluorinated alkyl silanes (FAS), fluorocarbon surfactants (FS-3100), and water can form stable system for preparation of superhydrophobic coatings on soft and hard substrates. After coating treatment, the superhydrophobic coatings exhibit excellent chemical stability (resistant to acid, alkali, salt, and ultraviolet radiation) and good mechanical robustness due to superhydrophobicity and crosslinking effects of FAS and FS-3100. Furthermore, the superhydrophobic coatings can delay water freezing time and poses superior anti-icing performance. This simple water-based coating solution may provide a new way of thinking for the later development of new coating technologies that are economical for all applications.