Graphene oxide and cuprous oxide/hydrogel modified epoxy coating for marine antifouling

Marine biofouling has detrimental effects on the performance and service life of ships and drilling platforms, leading to increased fuel consumption, corrosion of structural surfaces, and significant financial losses. To address these challenges, we developed epoxy coatings that incorporate graphene oxide (GO) and release copper ions (Cu\(^{2+}\)). We carried out microalgae adhesion studies and marine bacterial adhesion experiments on the various composite coatings to examine the antifouling performance of the composite coatings. Additionally, we investigated the underlying mechanisms responsible for the effects of GO and Cu\(^{2+}\). The results demonstrated the superior anti-adhesion properties of GO. The amount of microalgae adhering to the GO modified epoxy coating was only 13% of that adhering to the epoxy resin coating. Moreover, no microalgae adhesion was observed in the microalgae adhesion assay for the GO/Cu\(_{2}\)O hydrogel modified epoxy composite coating (GCHMC). Additionally, we observed a sustained release of Cu\(^{2+}\) from the GCHMC for over 100 days, as indicated by the Cu\(^{2+}\) release trend. Therefore, the GCHMC effectively showcased its long-lasting marine antifouling properties.