Controlling DOPA adsorption via interacting with polyelectrolytes: layer structure and corrosion resistance.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Corrosion Science

Background:

• Protein adsorption on polyelectrolyte (PE) surfaces is widely studied, but controlling adsorption via PE adlayer structure remains underexplored.
• The relationship between molecular conformation and the anticorrosion performance of composite materials needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the tuning of protein (l-DOPA) adsorption on PE surfaces by controlling PE adlayer structure and surface properties.
• To understand the correlation between the molecular conformation of adsorbed biomolecules and the anticorrosion performance of composite materials.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a series of polyelectrolytes (PEs).
• Construction of 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (l-DOPA) adlayers on PE surfaces.
• In situ monitoring of the adsorption process and characterization of surface morphology and properties.

Main Results:

• Highly charged cationic PE surfaces resulted in loose l-DOPA adlayers, poor surface morphology, and weak anticorrosion capacity.
• Amphiphilic and highly charged cationic PE surfaces promoted compact and smooth l-DOPA adlayers through cation-π and hydrophobic interactions.
• One optimized multilayer coating demonstrated a 460-fold enhancement in anticorrosion inhibition efficiency compared to the bare substrate.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals the interaction mechanisms between l-DOPA and PE surfaces, enabling controllable adsorption of biomolecules.
• Optimizing PE adlayer structure is a promising strategy for developing advanced anticorrosion coatings with significantly enhanced performance.