Bioinspired coating with active-passive synergistic mechanism for enhanced fouling control

Abstract

Marine antifouling coatings are widely used to address the common problem of biofouling in marine engineering due to their cost-effectiveness and convenience. However, designing environmentally friendly and efficient coatings that can effectively tackle the formation of biofouling remains a significant challenge. This study proposes a synergistic antifouling strategy combining both active and passive mechanisms, thereby achieving efficient and eco-friendly antifouling performance. Specifically, we designed and synthesized porous ruthenium selenide nanoparticles (P-RuSe₂ NPs) with dual enzyme-like activities (peroxidase and photoactivated oxidase), and combined them with a low-surface-energy coating to construct an antifouling system that integrates both active and passive synergistic functions. In this system, the low-surface-energy coating provides passive protection by reducing the initial attachment of biofouling organisms, while the P-RuSe₂ NPs actively kill bacteria through their excellent enzymatic catalytic activity, further enhancing the antifouling effect. After 180 days of marine immersion, the biofouling area of the coating was reduced by 86.22 % compared to the control sample, demonstrating exceptional long-term antifouling performance. This study not only verifies the significant effect of the synergistic antifouling performance of nanozymes and low-surface-energy coatings, but also provides innovative design ideas and technological directions for the development of novel, efficient, and environmentally friendly marine antifouling coatings.