Antireflective, Transparent, Water-Resistant, and Antibacterial Zn-Doped Silicon Oxide Thin Films for Touchscreen-Based Display Applications

Environmental contamination by microorganisms is a major cause of transmission of several infectious diseases. Interactive touchscreen-based devices are known to be hotspots for pathogenic microorganisms, from where they spread onto the human body through contact. Therefore, an antibacterial coating can play an important role in reducing contamination by microorganisms. Herein, eco-friendly and highly transparent polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-coated zinc-doped silicon oxide (SZO/PTFE) thin films are demonstrated as antireflective and antibacterial smartphone panel coatings. The SZO and SZO/PTFE thin films exhibit very low refractive index and high transmittance similar to those of bare glass. Furthermore, an ultrathin coating of PTFE on SZO films explicitly increases the hydrophobic properties of SZO thin films without affecting the antibacterial activity. SZO/PTFE thin films also demonstrated good mechanical durability and long-term stability by presenting consistent transmittance and hydrophobic properties under harsh conditions. Our results demonstrate a simple method to realize extremely good multi-functional surface coatings featuring antireflective ability, hydrophobicity, and superior antibacterial activity for smart panels, touchscreens, and medical devices.