Grafting Silicone at Room Temperature-a Transparent, Scratch-resistant Nonstick Molecular Coating

Silicones are usually considered to be inert and, thus, not reactive with surfaces. Here we show that the most common silicone, methyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane, spontaneously and stably bonds on glass-and any other material with silicon oxide surface chemistry-even at room temperature. As a result, a 2-5 nm thick and transparent coating, which shows extraordinary nonstick properties toward polar and nonpolar liquids, ice, and even super glue, is formed. Ten microliter drops of various liquids slide off a coated glass when the sample is inclined by less than 10 degrees. Ice adhesion strength on a coated glass is only 2.7 +/- 0.6 kPa, that is, more than 98% less than ice adhesion on an uncoated glass. The mechanically stable coating can be easily applied by painting, spraying, or rollcoating. Notably, the reaction does not require any excess energy or solvents, nor does it induce hazardous byproducts, which makes it an ideal option for environmentally sustainable surface modification in a myriad of technological applications.