A simple sol-gel method to prepare superhydrophilic silica coatings

A highly transparent and mechanically robust superhydrophilic silica coating was prepared by sol-gel method followed by calcination, using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as precursor and hydrochloric acid (HCl) as catalyst. The superhydrophilic coating showed excellent anti-fogging characteristic in humid environment. The effect of calcination on the microstructure and chemical composition of the coating was discussed in detail. This transparent and mechanically robust superhydrophilic coating can find potential application in windshields, eyeglasses and solar cells. •A superhydrophilic silica coating was prepared by sol-gel method.•The method is very simple and cost-effective.•The prepared thin film possesses highly transparent and mechanically robust properties.