Current trends, challenges, and perspectives of anti-fogging technology: Surface and material design, fabrication strategies, and beyond

Transparent materials such as glasses and some polymers play an essential role in our daily life. Indeed, it is well known that their application in mirrors, windows, automobile windshields, and eyewear make our day-to-day activities more comfortable. These examples aside, many more can also be found in several spheres of human activity, including such sectors as diverse and distinct as the medical, photovoltaic and food industry fields. Unfortunately, due to the unavoidable condensation of water vapor on solid surfaces, these materials undergo fogging under normal operating conditions. More than a mere nuisance, this naturally occurring phenomenon adversely affects their optical performance as it lowers the light-transmitting capability and often gives rise to esthetical, hygienic, and safety concerns. In this context, research in the field of anti-fogging technology has attracted growing interest, particularly in recent years, for numerous potential applications. In this review, recent developments in the design and manufacturing of anti-fogging surfaces are described in detail, beginning with the fogging mechanism in terms of nucleation and growth of water drops. Anti-fogging strategies explored thus far and mainly focusing on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces are then extensively described. Finally, based on current research in this promising field, future trends and prospects for their effective implementation are presented.