Coral-inspired photoelectrochemical coating with dynamic self-cleaning and antifouling properties

Marine biofouling poses a major challenge to marine infrastructure and environmental sustainability. Inspired by the dynamic tentacle structures of corals and their exceptional self-cleaning capability, we developed a bioinspired UiO-66-TMG/PPy multifunctional antifouling coating with dynamic self-cleaning properties. Quaternary ammonium molecular brushes in the coating emulate the dynamic motion of coral tentacles, whilst photoelectrochemical coupling endows the coating with integrated bactericidal and self-cleaning functions. Cathodic polarization generates electrostatic repulsion and dynamic molecular motion as the primary antifouling barrier, whereas quaternary ammonium groups and photoelectrochemically generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) construct a secondary chemical barrier for bacterial inactivation and surface renewal. The synergistic effect of these two barriers affords outstanding antibacterial performance. Comprehensive characterization studies by XRD, FTIR, SEM, LSV, EIS, and Mott-Schottky analysis confirmed the successful construction and antibacterial action of the UiO-66-TMG/PPy coating. Under cathodic polarization (-1 V) and visible-light irradiation, the system achieved 98.7 ± 0.9% and 99.8 ± 0.1% inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, demonstrating broad-spectrum antifouling capability. This work offers a new bioinspired route toward self-cleaning antifouling coatings for advanced marine applications.