Transparent Amphiphobic Coating for Anti-Fingerprint Application

Opportunity

High light transmittance and surface cleanliness are critical requirements for optical materials such as lenses, screens and shields. Fingerprints, skin oil residues and dust particles can significantly impact transparency and aesthetic value. While numerous strategies exist for creating superhydrophobic surfaces, achieving superamphiphobic surfaces remains challenging due to the lower surface tension of oils compared to water, making it difficult to realise oil-repellent surfaces. Polymeric optical lenses, particularly in medical and consumer products, require functionalisation with self-cleaning and anti-fingerprint properties while maintaining high light transmittance.

Technology

This technology offers an effective method to fabricate a highly transparent amphiphobic coating on PC with super hydrophobicity and high oleophobicity. Nanoporous silica particles films are strongly bonded on PC using pulsed laser deposition at ambient temperature, allowing for the modification of temperature-sensitive polymeric materials. The coating demonstrates excellent anti-reflection, anti-fingerprint and self-cleaning properties when decorated with a fluorocarbon compound. Mechanically, the coating exhibits good stability and strong adhesion to the polymer substrate, owing to pre-deposition plasma treatment.

Figure 1:  Anti-fingerprint coating to be used for facial shield, lens, etc.

Applications & Advantages

Main application areas include optical lenses for medical and consumer products, display screens for electronic devices and face protectors and other polymer-based optical materials requiring high transparency and cleanliness.

Advantages: 

• Self-cleaning and anti-fingerprint properties
• High light transmittance with anti-reflection properties
• Resistant to water and oil
• Strong adhesion to PC substrates