Self-Adaptive Absorption-Superspreading Coating for Environment Endurable and Long-Lasting Antifogging Applications

Conventional antifogging strategies face limitations such as high energy consumption, mechanical instability, and reduced long-term performance under extreme environmental conditions. Inspired by the self-cleaning properties of mammalian eyes, we developed a bioinspired self-adaptive absorption-superspreading coating (SAASC) for durable and efficient antifogging applications. SAASC integrates hydrophilic N-methyl-D-glucosamine (NMDG) and hydrophobic glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) segments into a crosslinked polymer network, enabling rapid moisture absorption and uniform swelling without phase separation. The coating transitions into a superspreading surface upon hydration, spreading water droplets within 2.5 ms to prevent fog formation at its onset. SAASC exhibits exceptional mechanical durability, maintaining uniform swelling and optical transparency under extreme temperature and humidity conditions. High-speed imaging and contact angle measurements demonstrated its ultrafast water-spreading behavior, while swelling-deswelling cycles confirmed its robustness. Unlike conventional coatings, SAASC retains its antifogging performance after long-term aging tests (e.g., 60 days at 85°C/100% RH). We further validated practical applications of SAASC on eyeglasses, safety goggles, surgical microscopes, drones, and agricultural terrariums, where it effectively prevented fogging while preserving high optical transmittance. With its self-adaptive mechanism, environmental resilience, and scalability, SAASC represents a novel and versatile solution for long-lasting antifogging in real-world applications.