Bioinspired functional glass integrated with multiplex repellency ability from laser-patterned hexagonal texturing

Abstract

Optically transparent glass integrated with other functions, especially water/fog/ice/contaminate-repellent ability, is highly demanded for electronic displays, vehicle windshields and large-area building windows. Yet, the functional glass currently used in most of these applications faces challenges in integration fabrication and the trade-off between intrinsic optical property and imparted new functions, despite some advances in transparent superhydrophobic glass over the past decade. To this end, inspired by the functional hexagonal microstructure array of mosquito compound eye, a novel strategy to achieve multifunctional integration glass (MIG) is developed for omni-repellency towards water/fog/ice/contaminants in practical applications. The laser textured MIG performed well in durability and transmittance (about 98% of the pristine glass transmittance), which might be ascribed to the microstructure optimization. Moreover, some capabilities are also endowed to this glass, including a diversified self-cleaning ability for a variety of contaminants, a stable antifogging performance in dense fog environment, and an outstanding icing delay effect at low temperature. This work provides a promising fusion concept toward the design of multiplexed platforms that can integrate different functions in one glass for commercially versatile glass.