Leveraging Polymeric Design for Marine Anti-Biofouling: Mechanism, System, and Future

Marine biofouling presents major challenges for marine industries, leading to substantial economic losses and increased energy consumption. Historically, antifouling strategies relied on coatings containing tributyltin (TBT) or metal- and organic-based biocides. While effective, these coatings pose considerable environmental and biological risks, highlighting the need for sustainable and non-toxic alternatives. Recent advances in polymer science have opened new avenues for environmentally friendly antifouling solutions. Various approaches such as dynamic coatings (chemical and physical), fouling-release coatings, fouling-resistant coatings, and other emerging strategies leveraging polymeric design to prevent organism attachment have been developed. Yet, comprehensive and state-of-the-art overviews focusing specifically on their design from a polymer science perspective remain limited. This review first summarizes recent progress in marine antifouling polymeric materials and interfacial designs, focusing on the relationship between polymer structure and functional performance. It then discusses the current challenges associated with these materials and proposes potential solutions for further development. Finally, the review outlines possible directions for future progress in the field, aiming to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of marine antifouling polymeric materials and interfaces while inspiring continued research and innovation in sustainable, durable, and non-toxic antifouling coatings.