Mechanically robust, thermally stable, broadband antireflective, and superhydrophobic thin films on glass substrates

In this study, we developed a simple and versatile strategy to fabricate hierarchically structured lotus-leaf-like superhydrophobic thin films. The thin films are broadband antireflective, and the average transmittance of coated glass substrates reached greater than 95% in the wavelength range of 530-1340 nm, in contrast to 92.0% for bare glass substrate. The thin film surface shows a static water contact angle of 162° and a sliding angle less than 4°. Moreover, the thin film is thermally stable up to 300 °C, and shows remarkable stability against strong acid, strong alkali, water drop impact, and sand impact abrasion, while retaining its superhydrophobicity. Further, the thin film can pass the 3H pencil hardness test. The current approach may open a new avenue to a variety of practical applications, including windshields, eyeglasses, windows of high rise buildings and solar cells, etc.