Robust photothermal coating of core-shell nanoparticles for zero-energy long-lasting antifogging

Antifogging coatings show significant promise for transparency optical components, but existing antifogging coatings face challenges in achieving both durability and energy efficiency. We report an innovative printing technology for the scalable fabrication of uniform nanoparticle (NP) coatings featuring an Au@SiO2 core-shell architecture. The Au core enables efficient photothermal conversion, while the SiO2 shell ensures strong interfacial adhesion to diverse substrates and provides a hydrophilic surface. Leveraging the hydrophilicity and photothermal effect, the NP coatings restrain moisture condensation upon light exposure. The resulting coatings exhibit exceptional robust mechanical stability, maintaining their anti-fogging performance under harsh environmental conditions (soaking in water for 1 week or wiping with a glass cloth over 100 times), offering a sustainable and energy-efficient solution for long-term anti-fogging applications. This technology demonstrates significant potential for use in optical devices, automotive glass, and medical instruments. Our work not only provides a scalable platform for functional NP coating fabrication but also opens new avenues for the design of next-generation anti-fogging materials.