Designing environmentally benign modified silica resin coatings with biomimetic textures for antibiofouling

Abstract

Siloxane modified acrylic resin coatings with positive and negative replication textures were successfully fabricated by biomimicking the surface structures of natural lotus leaf and white crab shell via a replication method. The physical and chemical properties of the as-prepared coatings were systematically characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, AFM and contact angle measurements. Moreover, the antifouling (AF) property of the biomimetic textured surfaces was tested via the settlement assay with two microalgae of different sizes. The results indicated that the micromastoids and microdimples of the lotus leaf and white crab shell could significantly inhibit the settlement of microalgae. Both biomimetic textured coatings with positive and negative lotus leaf morphology can reduce 73% attachment of Closterium and 74% attachment of Navicula. Both biomimetic textured coatings with positive and negative white crab shell morphology could reduce over 65% attachment of Closterium and Navicula. Different antifouling mechanisms of the biomimetic textured coatings were analyzed based on three key factors, including surface wettability, morphology, and algae size.