Superhydrophilic multifunctional antifogging coatings based on triethoxysilyl-terminated poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)

A simple and convenient strategy for fabricating superhydrophilic multifunctional antifogging coatings was developed by hydrolyzing triethoxysilyl-terminated poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (TRES-PVP) with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) under acidic conditions. These antifogging coatings can be easily obtained by coating TRES-PVP hydrolysates on substrates at room temperature and then curing by thermal treatment. The superhydrophilic transparent coatings exhibited excellent antifogging, self-cleaning and antifouling properties. Additionally, the coatings also have good adhesion against the cross-cut test and remain stable after exposure to the laboratory environment for five months or immersion in water at room temperature for 20 days. Therefore, the present TRES-PVP hydrolysate coatings are promising for practical multifunctional antifogging applications.