Highly transparent and super-wettable nanocoatings hybridized with isocyanate-silane modified surfactant for multifunctional applications

Highly transparent and super-wettable nanocoatings for multifunctional applications with outstanding physical properties are in high demanded. However, such nanocoatings resistant to water invasion and Ultraviolet (UV) weathering remain a significant challenge. In this work, physically durable coatings based on inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) and an organic segment (isocyanate-silane modified surfactant) have been synthesized via a sol-gel approach. It is noteworthy the isocyanate-silane with –NH–C O- functional group creates a strong bonding between the highly hydrophilic surfactant and the inorganic NPs. This in-house synthesized organic segment can render the coating long-lasting wetting properties and resist to be washed away by water, while the inorganic NPs can form sturdy covalent bonds with the nano-scale hierarchical structure on the glazing substrate to improve the durability. This nanocoating demonstrates high transparency with superwetting property (water contact angle, WCA ​= ​4.4 ​± ​0.3°), effective de-frosting performance. Water invasion or UV accelerated weathering tests do not significantly affect the self-cleaning performance of nanocoating. Physical properties, including coating adhesion, hardness, Young's modulus, and abrasion resistance are systematically investigated. Interestingly, this clear coating shows prominent infrared shielding property attributed to Antimony-doped tin oxide (Sb-doped SnO2) NPs. The developed nanocoating process is easy to scale up for larger areas that require multipurpose self-cleaning functions.