COATED ARTICLES WITH AN ANTI-FINGERPRINT COATING OR SURFACE-MODIFYING LAYER AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

Coated articles are described herein that include a surface-modifying layer that is fluorine-free. In aspects, the surface-modifying layer comprises a partial silica-like network having a ratio of Si-O-Si bonds to Si atoms in the anti-fingerprint coating from about 2 to about 3. Additionally or alternatively, the surface-modifying layer further comprises an alkyl silane at the exterior surface and bonded to a Si-O group in the silica-like network. Methods include evaporating a functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane onto a first major surface. Methods include impinging an ion beam on the first major surface. Alternatively, methods include disposing and heating a solution comprising a polysilazane or a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane on a first major surface. In aspects, methods include reacting material at the first major surface with a alkyl silane.