Abstract: Self-healable, omniphobic coatings and related methods are provided. In embodiments, a self-healable, omniphobic coating comprises a matrix of crosslinked, entangled hydrogel polymers, the hydrogel polymers comprising hydroxyl (OH) groups, hydroxyl group precursors, or both, and nanoparticles distributed throughout the matrix; and fluorinated silane molecules covalently bound to the matrix.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing a hydrogel are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) dissolving effective amounts of a monomer, a crosslinker, and a photoinitiator in deionized water, wherein the overall concentration is about 200 mg/ml; (b) preparing a solution of a fluorinated acrylate or diacrylate in ethanol wherein the overall concentration is about 200 mg/ml; (c) separately stirring the solutions prepared in steps (a) and (b) for approximately three hours; (c) gradually introducing the solution from step (b) into the solution from step (a); (d) stirring the resulting solution from step (c) for about two hours; and (e) exposing the solution from step (d) to UV-A irradiation for about 15 minutes.