Preparation and characterization of anti-fingerprint and antireflective coatings prepared for touchscreen displays based on chitin nanofibers

The rapid development of touchscreen interfaces and portable electronics has increased the demand for anti-fingerprint and antireflective coatings, which enhance screen visibility and improve the user's visual experience. However, existing oleophilic or oil-repellent coatings often fail to deliver both high transparency and durable anti-fingerprint performance under real-use conditions. In this study, an antireflective coating was fabricated based on chitin nanofibers (ChNFs) to provide both amphiphobic and anti-fingerprint protection for touchscreen displays. The ChNF-based coatings with abundant large-sized nanopores were fabricated via freeze casting and subsequent modification with PFDTES deposition. The PFDTES-modified chitin nanofiber (P-ChNF) coatings combined the anti-fingerprint performance of both water and oleic acid contact angles of 153° and 118°, and increased glass transmittance at 550 nm by ~5 %. The P-ChNF coatings possessed good environmental durability and mechanical robustness, maintaining their anti-fingerprint and antireflective properties under harsh conditions. Notably, the smartphone screen coated with P-ChNF exhibited a substantial reduction in fingerprint residue, confirming improved anti-fingerprint performance. This work not only demonstrates that ChNFs are a promising candidate for meeting the growing demand for protective coatings in touchscreen displays, but also offers a feasible and efficient strategy to do so, thereby promoting the green and sustainable development of the anti-fingerprint coating industry.