Multifunctional Biomimetic Composite Coating with Antireflection, Self-Cleaning and Mechanical Stability

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Antireflective and self-cleaning coatings are crucial for applications like stealth and display devices.
• Existing coatings suffer from poor mechanical stability and environmental adaptability.
• Design limitations hinder the development of high-performance functional coatings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a biomimetic composite coating (BCC) with improved antireflective and self-cleaning capabilities.
• To overcome the limitations of current functional materials in terms of performance and durability.
• To create a coating with robust mechanical stability and environmental resistance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a SiO₂/PDMS/matte polyurethane biomimetic composite coating (BCC) using nano-polymerization spraying technology.
• Inspiration from the nano-/micro-composite structure of lotus leaves for self-cleaning properties.
• Evaluation of antireflective performance by measuring substrate reflectivity and self-cleaning by water contact angle.

Main Results:

• The BCC significantly reduced the average reflectivity of an aluminum alloy substrate from 60% to 10%.
• A water contact angle of 156.32 ± 0.58° was achieved, indicating excellent self-cleaning performance.
• The coating demonstrated remarkable mechanical stability, withstanding numerous abrasion, tape stripping, and scraping tests.
• Excellent acid resistance was also observed.

Conclusions:

• The developed BCC exhibits significant improvements in antireflective and self-cleaning properties.
• The coating possesses superior mechanical stability and acid resistance, surpassing current material limitations.
• This biomimetic coating holds substantial value for applications in aerospace, optoelectronics, and industrial anti-corrosion.