Enhanced antifouling capability of PDMS/Cu2O-anchored Fe-based amorphous coatings

Biofouling and corrosion, caused by marine organisms, pose significant challenges in the marine industry. Fe-based amorphous coatings have demonstrated remarkable corrosion resistance and hold promise for marine applications. However, they lack sufficient antifouling properties. Herein, we present a novel approach to enhance the antifouling properties of Fe-based amorphous coatings through co-modification with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O). The PDMS/Cu2O antifouling layer was successfully applied to the Fe-based amorphous coating with the bonding strength exceeding 2 MPa. The PDMS/Cu2O- anchored Fe-based amorphous coating (designated as PCA coating) demonstrates outstanding antifouling performance, showcasing 83.9 % resistance to protein, 99 % resistance to algae, high resistance to bacteria and mussel adhesion, and successful antifouling performance in practical marine field tests. The remarkable antifouling properties of the PCA coating stem from its dual capacity of killing and resisting to deter organism attachment across different length scales. And the enhanced anti-corrosion performance of the PCA coating was verified through electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). This study presents an innovative approach to designing marine coatings with anti-fouling and anti-corrosion capabilities.