Fabrication of Photocatalytic Hydrophobic Coatings for Efficient Self-Cleaning and Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity

Abstract Pathogenic bacterial contamination on indoor surfaces urgently requires multifunctional coatings that integrate long-term antibacterial activity and self-cleaning performance. Here, this study reports a photocatalytic self-cleaning composite film, PTQ10:Y6/PDMS/Glass (PTQ10:Y6/PDMS/G), that synergistically integrates organic semiconductor photocatalysis with hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) for bacterial adhesion resistance and photothermal sterilization. The PTQ10:Y6 donor–acceptor heterojunction extends Vis-NIR photoresponse and enhances carrier separation, boosting reactive oxygen species (ROS) production for bacterial membrane destruction. The coating exhibits a water contact angle (WCA) of 108°, retains hydrophobicity after 100 water-drop impacts, and demonstrates effective self-cleaning. Under visible-light illumination, it achieves 92.6% and 98.4% inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), respectively, within 30 min. This work provides a scalable strategy for high-performance antibacterial coatings for indoor sterilization.