Supersonically sprayed transparent flexible multifunctional composites for self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-fogging, and anti-bacterial applications

We used supersonic aerosol deposition to fabricate transparent flexible thin glass films, comprising SiO2 and ZnO, with antibacterial, superhydrophilic, and anti-fog properties. A polystyrene solution, which was supersonically sprayed onto the glass film to augment the superhydrophobicity, endowed the film with self-cleaning and anti-frost characteristics. The glass films have a thickness of 2-2.5 mu m with a maximum roughness of approximately 0.25 mu m. The sprayed polystyrene (PS) layer (approximately 200 nm thick) decreased the transparency of the film to 80% relative to that of the pure glass film (90%) at 580 nm. The large water contact angle of 165 degrees renders the PS-coated glass film superhydrophobic, which slows the nucleation of condensing droplets and delays the subsequent formation of ice, known as the anti-frost or anti-icing effect. The superhydrophobicity is also responsible for the self-cleaning effect of the rolling droplets over a tilted substrate. The hydrophilicity of the glass-coated film (or simply, glass film) without PS facilitated the formation of a thin liquid layer, which minimized light scattering and augmented the anti-fog effect. Finally, the bacterial inhibition rates of the glass and PS-coated glass films were 97.5% and 96.3%, respectively. These multifunctional films are expected to minimize the transmission of bacteria resulting from physical contact.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated the fabrication of transparent flexible thin glass films with antibacterial, superhydrophilic, and anti-fog properties using supersonic aerosol deposition. Superhydrophobicity and anti-frost characteristics were achieved by spraying a polystyrene solution onto the glass film. The multifunctional films showed high transparency and bacterial inhibition rates, making them promising for reducing bacterial transmission.