Surface-Enriched Amphiphilic Polysiloxane Coating with Superior Antifouling Ability and Strong Substrate Adhesion

Abstract

The coexistence of superior antifouling ability and strong substrate adhesion is a typical trade-off for a silicone coating but is highly desirable in numerous applications. Herein, we present a surface-enriched antifouling coating consisting of a bis-silane-terminated polyurea (SPU), an oligosiloxane nanocluster, and a bi-silanol-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) with fluorocarbon and poly(ethylene glycol) side chains as a reactive amphiphilic polymer (RAP). The oligosiloxane nanoclusters can cross-link the flexible SPU into a tough polymer network and interlink the polymer network to the substrate, whereas the low-surface-energy RAP can self-enrich on the surface during coating formation. Such a polysiloxane coating exhibits high transparency (>85% transmittance), high tensile strength (∼12 MPa), superior fouling resistance against proteins and bacteria, and strong adhesion strength on various substrates including glass, ceramic, steel, Ti, and epoxy (3–15 MPa). This research provides a universal and tunable approach for the future design of antifouling coatings in flexible electronics, medical devices, and marine industries.