Perfluoropolyether-benzophenone as a highly durable, broadband anti-reflection, and anti-contamination coating

Abstract

Anti-reflection and anti-contamination coatings prepared from fluorinated polymers have widespread and important applications, ranging from protective films for corrosion resistance to high-tech microelectronics and medical devices due to their transparency, low refractive index, stain resistance, and antifouling properties. However, the application of existing coatings is hindered by low surface adhesion to the target substrate and weakness when exposed to mechanical stress or damage, resulting in significant limitations to their practical applications. Herein, we incorporate perfluoropolyether (PFPE) with benzophenone (BP) to develop an efficient coating material (PFPE-BP) possessing broadband anti-reflectivity, anti-contamination properties, excellent abrasion resistance, and stability under elevated temperatures and relative humidity. The presence of BP allows the coating materials to be homogeneously mixed with a commercial hard coating solution to uniformly coat the target substrate. Furthermore, UV light irradiation on the coating surface results in excellent adhesion between BP groups of PFPE-BP and the hard coating matrix.

Robust Hybrid Omniphobic Surface for Stain Resistance

“…In addition, robust superhydrophobicity also can be realized by structuring surfaces at two different length scales, with a nanostructure design to provide water repellency and a microstructure design to provide durability. − For the SLIPS material, intermolecular non-covalent interactions such as a π-electron, π-OH, and electrostatic interaction between lubricating liquid molecules and solid surfaces were considered to avoid the loss of lubricating liquid. In addition, other approaches were used to construct stable omniphobic materials by covalent grafting liquid-like low surface energy molecules on the solid surface. − Liu’s group reported several anti-smudge polyurethane and epoxy coatings − using a single-functional polysiloxane polymer. The polysiloxane molecules acted as side chains that can aggregate to form the core of micelles and assembled on the coating surface, which endows surface omniphobicity.…”