A candle soot based multi-layer superhydrophobic coating with anti-condensation and anti-biofouling properties

In this study, we demonstrated a multi-layer fluorine-free superhydrophobic coating with anti-condensation and anti-biofouling properties. Polyethylene terephthalate was introduced to fix the candle soot layers. The coating exhibits exceptional superhydrophobicity due to the formation of nanocarbon chains resulting from incomplete combustion of the candle. The obtained superhydrophobic coatings exhibited enhanced anti-condensation and anti-algae properties. The coatings presented suppressed the nucleation and growth of condensates at a subcooled temperature of 8 °C. To examine the anti-biofouling property of the surface, the as-prepared samples were submerged in impurity water for 7 days. The Scenedesmus obliquus failed to adhere and proliferate on the coating surface during the 7-day continuous immersion. The developed coating holds promise to provide a low cost, high-throughput, faster way to develop function coatings for industry applications.