Uniform silver nanoparticles coating using dual regime spray deposition system for superhydrophilic and antifogging applications

Antifogging and/or superhydrophilic properties of coatings are widely exploited both in a laboratory environment and in industrial applications. Material choice for the production of the coatings is of vital importance for the final coating properties. Silver nanoparticles have been known to have antibacterial and fungicidal properties, which make them extremely useful in biomedical applications. Production of coatings that combine superhydrophilic and the unique properties of silver nanoparticles can be beneficial in numerous applications. Dual regime spray coating system allows for the production of a thin, uniformly distributed nanoparticle coating through droplet impact velocity and gas flow control. Silver nanoparticles of ~15 nm average diameter were synthesized and coated onto the glass substrate, which produced the top layer with strong superhydrophilic/antifogging properties with water contact angles of close to 6°. In addition, coated surfaces exhibited an increase in light transmission of ~0.7% in the 500–700 nm range.