Fabrication of dual functional marine antifouling coatings by infusing epoxy silicone oil modification of quaternary ammonium

Abstract

Slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) has attracted widespread attention in marine antifouling field, but it lacks the contact-killing ability, which limits its long-term anti-fouling efficiency. Herein, a SLIPS endowed with both resist and contact-killing antimicrobial performances is reported. Firstly, anodic aluminum oxides (AAO) with composite structures of the pores and pyramids were prepared and modified with siloxane. Then, a silicone oil containing quaternary ammonium salt (QAS-SO) groups was synthesized and infused into specially designed AAO, forming a QAS-SLIPS. The surface demonstrated remarkably anti-bacterial performances both Gram-positive Bacillus sp. and Gram-negative V. natriegens, and also maintained essential contact-killing antimicrobial activities from the grafted QAS groups. Biofouling testing suggested excellent antifouling performances of the QAS-SLIPS by declining the adhesion of 90.6 % Phaeodactylum tricornutum and 74.1 % of Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Overall, the antifouling performance of QAS-SLIPS comes primarily from two aspects, including physical isolation and contact-killing. Due to the easy of synthesis and excellent broad-spectrum antifouling effects, the QAS-SO could be potentially used for the development of antifouling coatings or as a lubricant for other devices.