Bio-inspired surfaces for resisting marine fouling

Abstract

As a global problem, marine fouling has always been a challenge that mankind must face. The surface structure of many organisms in nature provides researchers with ideas on reducing or even eliminating marine fouling. Based on the different antifouling surfaces that exist in nature, researchers have thus far created six broad categories of antifouling methods that are now widely used. This paper analyzes how various widely used antifouling methods are biologically inspired and how they work. Additionally, potential antifouling methods are proposed based on other biological antifouling surfaces in nature.