Preventing Underwater Bioadhesion by Biomimetic High-entropy Metal Oxides

Exploiting adamant and biocide-free surfaces for combating the ubiquitous and obstinate bioadhesion is urgently required for underwater facilities, but substantial challenges remain due to the diversity of adhesive organisms and the complexity of their bioadhesion mechanisms. Herein, a biomimetic high entropy metal oxide Ce_0.5Zr_0.2Nb_0.15Ta_0.1Hf_0.05O_x is developed for combating underwater bioadhesion. Specifically, the high-entropy oxide exhibits superior lactonase and protease-like activities in actuating the hydrolysis of (phosphorylated) proteins and quorum-sensing lactone signal molecules, and the intrinsic haloperoxidase-mimicking behavior can strengthen the hydrolysis activity. Density functional theory calculations demonstrate that the remarkable interfacial chemical effect is attributed to the proximity Ce d band center and Fermi level. When evaluated in both the laboratory setting and marine field testing, the underwater solid surfaces achieve remarkable nonfouling ability. These findings highlight the great potential of biomimetic high-entropy materials for realizing green and comprehensive underwater bioadhesion prevention.