A Bioinspired Antifouling Coating Based on "Host-Guest Interaction" Strategy: Durable Slipperiness and Tunable...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Biomimetics

Background:

• Lubricant-mediated surfaces face challenges in transparency and lubricant loss, limiting antifouling applications.
• Existing antifouling solutions often struggle with durability and environmental compatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel Liquid-Like Surfaces (LLSs) inspired by globefish skin for transparent and durable antifouling applications.
• To investigate the antifouling mechanisms and transparency properties of these LLSs in various environments.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of LLSs using cyclodextrin-eugenol inclusion complexes as poison glands and flexible silicone chains as the liquid-like layer.
• Evaluation of antifouling performance, mechanical properties, adhesion, and transparency in seawater and freshwater.
• Investigation of the role of host-guest interactions and surface energy in LLS functionality.

Main Results:

• The developed LLSs demonstrated effective antifouling by slowly releasing eugenol, preventing organism attachment and improving surface durability.
• LLSs exhibited excellent mechanical and adhesive properties, with spontaneous migration of silicone chains to the surface.
• A notable difference in transparency was observed between seawater and freshwater, attributed to ion-dipole interactions affecting polymer network hydrogen bonding.

Conclusions:

• The biomimetic LLSs offer a promising solution for transparent antifouling, overcoming limitations of traditional methods.
• The tunable transparency based on environmental conditions provides insights for developing responsive polymer materials.
• LLS-coated lenses maintained transparency in seawater for 90 days, highlighting their potential for long-term marine applications.