Durability of microporous hybrid silica coatings: Optical and wetting properties

•Sol-gel hybrid silica coatings: Long lasting antireflection and water-repellence.•The coatings have a microporous structure with hydrophobic pore surfaces.•Coatings preserve their advantageous properties after soaking in neutral aqueous media.•The effect of acidic or alkaline aqueous media can be reversed via heat-treatment.•Soaking resulting in matrix swelling helps to preserve the antireflective property.