Biocidal Properties of Superhydrophobic Coating Based on Carbon Nanotube Xerogel

Abstract

The creation of a multifunctional coating based on carbon nanomaterials, in particular one with protective biocidal properties, is considered a promising direction. The protection of material surfaces from destruction by micromycetes-destructors is of particular interest. The study presents data on the interaction of nanomaterials of the Taunit-M brand (multiwalled carbon nanotubes), onion-shaped carbon nanostructures, and Tuball (single-walled carbon nanotubes) with micromycetes-destructors. The aim of this paper is to study the influence of these materials used in the coating composition on the processes of surface overgrowth by micromycetes-destructors. The growth of the Penicillium chrysogenum strain (Cs/21) and Aspergillus niger strain (Ch4/07) on pure carbon nanotubes, nanotubes functionalized with –OH, –COOH, and –CONH₂ groups, as well as carbon nanotubes decorated with onion-shaped carbon nanostructures, detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs), and titanium dioxide nanocrystals, is studied. The samples are made in the form of a superhydrophobic coating of nanoparticle-based xerogel. The highest resistance is demonstrated by coatings made of functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes of the Taunit-M brand with –OH, –COOH and CONH₂ groups, as well as those decorated with titanium dioxide and DNDs. The development of micromycetes on their surface is absent in all test variants. These coatings do not contain food sources for micromycetes, but contain components with biocidal properties. Thus, they can be considered biostable. The studied carbon nanomaterials are proposed to be used for the organization of protective superhydrophobic coatings, since they are produced in industrial quantities and are easily accessible for comparative studies.