Highly effective hydrophobic solar reflective coating for building materials: Increasing total solar reflectance via functionalized anatase immobilization in an organosiloxane matrix

•Solar reflective coating based on functionalized anatase TiO2 particles incorporated in an organosiloxane matrix (TiO2/sol) is prepared via a sol-gel method.•Organosiloxane coating exhibits excellent hydrophobicity, static friction, and durability.•Temperature reduction inside the concrete mortar composite specimens treated with TiO2/sol records as high as 4.1  °C (8.0 °F) compared to its pristine state sample.•Efficient light scattering by embedded TiO2 particles is the mechanism for temperature reduction.