Concertation of Anti-Reflective, Superhydrophobic Surface Based on Rational Assembly of Dual-Size Silica

Xu, Lu; Niu, Lei; Chen, Shuqun; He, Ting; Wu, Junshu; Ai, Jianbo; Li, Yongli

doi:10.3390/ma18245601

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Concertation of Anti-Reflective, Superhydrophobic Surface Based on Rational Assembly of Dual-Size Silica

by

Lu Xu

¹,

Lei Niu

²,

Shuqun Chen

²,

Ting He

²,

Junshu Wu

²

,

Jianbo Ai

¹ and

Yongli Li

^2,*

¹

China Helicopter Research and Development Institute, Jingdezhen 33300, China

²

State Key Laboratory of Materials Low-Carbon Recycling, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Materials 2025, 18(24), 5601; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245601

Submission received: 4 November 2025 / Revised: 4 December 2025 / Accepted: 9 December 2025 / Published: 12 December 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Thin Films and Interfaces)

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Abstract

Silica-based multifunctional coatings hold great promise for applications in optical devices, lenses, and solar panels. Herein, we report a facile, low-temperature route to integrate super-hydrophobicity with high transparency and low haze. By precisely controlling particle gradation and applying fluorine passivation, a multi-scale structure with micro-scale uniformity and nano-scale asperity was constructed. This unique architecture, combined with low surface energy, effectively reduces light scattering and enhances air trapping. Consequently, the coated glass achieves a high optical transmittance of 95.24% with a low haze of 0.97%, alongside a water contact angle of 153° and a sliding angle of 3°. The coating also exhibits distinct anti-reflection (an improvement of ~5.0% relative to the bare substrate) and self-cleaning properties. Furthermore, it demonstrates impressive robustness and durability, withstanding extreme conditions including cryogenic temperatures (−50 °C), hygrothermal environments, and long-term outdoor exposure. This work demonstrates the versatile potential of our strategy for fabricating highly transparent and superhydrophobic surfaces.

Keywords: anti-reflective superhydrophobic surfaces; particle gradation; dual-size assembly; robustness

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MDPI and ACS Style

Xu, L.; Niu, L.; Chen, S.; He, T.; Wu, J.; Ai, J.; Li, Y. Concertation of Anti-Reflective, Superhydrophobic Surface Based on Rational Assembly of Dual-Size Silica. Materials 2025, 18, 5601. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245601

AMA Style

Xu L, Niu L, Chen S, He T, Wu J, Ai J, Li Y. Concertation of Anti-Reflective, Superhydrophobic Surface Based on Rational Assembly of Dual-Size Silica. Materials. 2025; 18(24):5601. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245601

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xu, Lu, Lei Niu, Shuqun Chen, Ting He, Junshu Wu, Jianbo Ai, and Yongli Li. 2025. "Concertation of Anti-Reflective, Superhydrophobic Surface Based on Rational Assembly of Dual-Size Silica" Materials 18, no. 24: 5601. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245601

APA Style

Xu, L., Niu, L., Chen, S., He, T., Wu, J., Ai, J., & Li, Y. (2025). Concertation of Anti-Reflective, Superhydrophobic Surface Based on Rational Assembly of Dual-Size Silica. Materials, 18(24), 5601. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18245601

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Concertation of Anti-Reflective, Superhydrophobic Surface Based on Rational Assembly of Dual-Size Silica

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