Multifunctional Hard Yet Flexible Coatings Fabricated Using a Universal Step‐by‐Step Strategy

Hard yet flexible coatings with multi‐functionalities are useful for foldable displays and marine industries but rare. In this study, a highly cross‐linked multifunctional hybrid coating with ceramic‐like hardness and polymer‐like flexibility is reported. The coating is prepared via a step‐by‐step strategy, where two types of epoxy‐oligosiloxane nanoclusters are first synthesized by sol‐gel chemistry, and amine‐terminated curing agents are used to cross‐link them at room temperature. The coating is highly transparent (>92% transmittance), hard (6‐7H), and flexible (10 mm bending diameter) because of the unique combination of siloxane nanoclusters and polymer networks. Meanwhile, since the coating contains fouling‐resistant telomer and low‐surface‐tension liquid lubricant polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), it exhibits excellent anti‐biofouling and self‐cleaning properties. The results indicate that the mechanical and antifouling properties of the coating can be easily tuned and prove that the step‐by‐step strategy is a promising and universal method. The novel coatings can meet the needs of applications in foldable displays, marine industries, and other fields.