A facile antifogging/frost-resistant coating with self-healing ability

Abstract

Although many antifogging surfaces have been successfully developed, constructing a surface with both antifogging and frost resistance properties is still a great challenge since the condensed water inevitably turns into an ice layer under freezing conditions. Herein, an antifogging/frost-resistant polymeric coating consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) and salicylic acid is developed on the basis of a hydrogen bond cross-linking strategy. Unlike conventional superhydrophilic antifogging surfaces, the excellent antifogging/frost resistance performance over a broad range of temperatures (ca. −196.6 to 85 °C), is ascribed to the water-absorbing capability of the coating. Moreover, the coating also exhibits efficient self-healing properties in a wet environment. Due to its simplicity and efficiency, this type of coating may serve as an excellent antifogging/frost-resistant platform for a broad range of applications in optics-related areas.