A Strategy of Antifogging: Air-Trapped Hollow Microsphere Nanocomposites

Abstract

Excellent durable antifogging film, which is composed of hollow microspheres and ZnO nanorods, is fabricated via combining airless spray and crystal growth methods. Because the thermal insulation effect of hollow microspheres strengthens the superhydrophobicity of the micro- and nanostructure composite film at lower temperatures, durable antifogging is realized successfully. When the film is placed in a low-temperature, high-humidity environment, supercooled tiny water droplets cannot spread on it and can easily coalesce and jump off from the surface, exhibiting the robust superhydrophobic and antifogging performance for a significantly long time. This investigation provides insight into designing structured thermal insulation surface materials to realize antifogging that can be applied into microdevices used in cold, high-humidity environments.