Mucilage-inspired robust antifouling coatings under liquid mediums

Abstract

Recently, antifouling coatings with unique superwetting that resist the aggressive organic liquids, small- molecule dyes or high-viscosity liquids has attracted widespread researchers’ attentions. However, the instability of these coatings under different liquid mediums tremendously constrains its practical applications. In nature, various mucilaginous organisms such as Loach, Earthworm and Chinese yam live in different environments (muddy water, sludge or soils) without being corrupted. Inspired by their mucilaginous antifouling property, here aluminum phosphate (AP) inorganic binder was introduced to combine inorganic nanoparticles (TiO2) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) organic nanoparticles together, forming stable organic–inorganic composite AP-TiO2@PTFE coatings. The wettability, surface energy, and mechanical property of the composite coatings could be adjusted by regulating the mass ratios of organic–inorganic components. Furthermore, the perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant acted as the mucilage was infused into the porous coatings to construct lubricant-infused surface of AP-TiO2@PTFE@PFPE. Importantly, the prepared AP-TiO2@PTFE@PFPE coatings exhibited excellent anti-contamination property to various organic liquids (surface tensions: 18.43–72.8 mN/m), dye molecules and high-viscosity crude oil even after multiple abrasion or bending cycles under different environmental medium, which exhibits great application potentials in advanced functional composite coatings for materials protections.