Cultural heritage serves as the material carrier of human history and civilization. However, under the influence of both natural and anthropogenic factors, it faces multiple threats such as pollution, weathering, and biological erosion, among which moisture is a critical factor contributing to the aging and deterioration of heritage materials. Lotus-leaf-inspired self-cleaning coatings, based on the micro-nano hierarchical structure and low surface energy characteristics of lotus leaf surfaces, exhibit outstanding superhydrophobic and self-cleaning properties, thereby providing a novel solution for the preventive conservation of cultural heritage. This paper systematically reviews the hydrophobic principles and preparation processes of self-cleaning coatings, summarizes their current application status in stone, wood, paper, mural, and metal cultural relics, and analyzes the existing problems of this technology in terms of durability, construction adaptability, and other aspects. Finally, from the perspectives of material innovation, process optimization, and functional integration, the future development directions of biomimetic self-cleaning coatings in cultural heritage conservation are prospected, aiming to provide theoretical references for related research and practice.

Yuheng Miao, Liqi Yang, Bingyi Tian, Jia Lu, Jiayi Lv, Xinyuan Shen, Jiaying Chen, Sheng Chen. Research Progress on Lotus-Leaf-Inspired Self-Cleaning Coatings in Cultural Heritage Conservation. The Frontiers of Society, Science and Technology (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 2: 67-73. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSST.2026.080209.

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