Fabrication of transparent superhydrophobic silica-based film on a glass substrate

► A film realized transmission of 90.90% and water contact angle of 154.32°. ► 1TEOS:48 C2H5OH:4H2O (pH 1.2) was used to hydrolyze TEOS at 70 °C. ► HMDS was reacted with hydrolyzed TEOS to produce hydrophobic silica. ► Sol aged at 20 °C in refrigerator for 48 h yielded a transparent superhydrophobic film. ► No additional surface chemistry modification was needed.