Bare Glass Substrate Research Articles

In-Situ Observation of Ice-Adhesion Interface Under Tangential Loading: Anti-Icing Mechanism of Hydrophilic PPEGMA Polymer Brush

Techniques preventing icing and ice accumulation on surfaces are required to solve snow- and ice-induced accidents and disasters. Recently, hydrophilic polymers have attracted attention as a passive anti-icing method. This study examined the ice-adhesion properties of the hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] (PPEGMA) concentrated polymer brush (CPB). A custom-built apparatus was developed to obtain the ice-adhesion strength and visualize the dynamics of the ice-adhesion interface under tangential loading. The ice-adhesion interface for a PPEGMA-CPB-coated glass substrate was investigated by comparing it with the bare glass substrate. As a result, the CPB exhibited a low ice-adhesion strength of less than 100 kPa, the dependencies of which on the drive speed and temperature indicate a high-viscous liquid-like layer at the interface, even below the melting point of water, leading to the smooth onset of sliding due to its self-lubricity without any rupture events (including precursory events) observed for the bare glass.

Transparent Superhydrophobic and Self-Cleaning Coating.

Surface roughness and low surface energy are key elements for the artificial preparation of biomimetic superhydrophobic materials. However, the presence of micro-/nanostructures and the corresponding increase in roughness can increase light scattering, thereby reducing the surface transparency. Therefore, designing and constructing superhydrophobic surfaces that combine superhydrophobicity with high transparency has been a continuous research focus for researchers and engineers. In this study, a transparent superhydrophobic coating was constructed on glass substrates using hydrophobic fumed silica (HF-SiO2) and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) as raw materials, combined with a simple spray-coating technique, resulting in a water contact angle (WCA) of 158.7 ± 1.5° and a sliding angle (SA) of 6.2 ± 1.8°. Characterization tests including SEM, EDS, LSCM, FTIR, and XPS revealed the presence of micron-scale protrusions and a nano-scale porous network composite structure on the surface. The presence of HF-SiO2 not only provided a certain roughness but also effectively reduced surface energy. More importantly, the coating exhibited excellent water-repellent properties, extremely low interfacial adhesion, self-cleaning ability, and high transparency, with the light transmittance of the coated glass substrate reaching 96.1% of that of the bare glass substrate. The series of functional characteristics demonstrated by the transparent superhydrophobic HF-SiO2@WPU coating designed and constructed in this study will play an important role in various applications such as underwater observation windows, building glass facades, automotive glass, and goggles.

Enhanced optical performance of solar cell using hydrophobic SnO2/TEOS/MTMS antireflection coating

AbstractAnti‐reflection coatings have potential usage in photovoltaic solar cells, sensors, and display devices to reduce reflectance, glare and enhance light transmission. ARC was developed to increase more efficiency of solar cell cover glasses, by depositing SnO2/TEOS/MTMS coating using the sol–gel spin coating technique. The coating showed a maximum transmittance of 92.70% at 399 nm wavelength with an average refractive index of 1.42. The transmittance of the antireflective film was increased by 2.29% than the bare glass substrate. The surface morphology of the coatings was investigated using FESEM analysis. The mechanical stability of the coating was evaluated using ASTM standard D 3363–05 pencil scratch test, and it demonstrated good performance against 3H hardness pencil. The efficiency of solar cells has been increased by 1.56% after depositing with single layer SnO2/TEOS/MTMS film. Moreover, the coating maintains the solar cell's performance even during dust exposure, because of its self‐cleaning ability with water contact angle of 94°. Thus, the Anti‐reflection coating can be applied to enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic system.

Hybrid interfacial cryosoret nano-engineering in photonic resonator interferometric scattering microscopy: Insights from nanoparticles and nano-assemblies

The requirements of augmented signal contrast provided by nanoparticle tags in biosensor microscopy-based point-of-care technologies for cancer and infectious disease diagnostics can be addressed through metallo-dielectric nanoarchitectures that enhance optical scattering and absorption to provide digital resolution detection of single tags with simple instrumentation. Photonic Resonator Interferometric Scattering Microscopy (PRISM) enables label-free visualization of nanometer-scale analytes such as extracellular vesicles and virions, and its applicability can be extended to biomolecular analyte counting through nanoparticle tags. Here, we present template-free, linker-less cryosoret nano-assemblies fabricated via adiabatic cooling (−196 °C) as plasmonic nano-antennas that provide high scattering contrast in PRISM. Plasmonic Ag and Au nanomaterials and their cryosorets are evaluated through imaging experiments and simulations based on the finite element method to understand the photo-plasmonic coupling effect at the surface of a photonic crystal (PC) interface. The Ag and Au cryosorets provide at most 8.29-fold and 6.77-fold higher signal contrast compared to their singlet counterpart. Through the simulations, the averaged field magnitude enhancements of 2.77-fold and 3.68-fold are observed for Ag and Au cryosorets when interfacing with PCs compared to bare glass substrates. The hybrid coupling between the localized Mie and delocalized Bragg plasmons of cryosorets and the underlying PC's guided mode resonance provides insights for developing nano-assembly-based nano-tags for biosensing applications.

Plasmonic Au@Ag Core-Shell Nanoisland Film for Photothermal Inactivation and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Detection of Bacteria.

Plasmonic metal nanomaterials have been extensively investigated for their utilizations in biomedical sensing and treatment. In this study, plasmonic Au@Ag core-shell nanoisland films (Au@AgNIFs) were successfully grown onto a glass substrate using a seed-mediated growth procedure. The nanostructure of the Au@AgNIFs was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The UV-Vis spectra of the Au@AgNIFs exhibited a broad absorption in the visible range from 300 to 800 nm because of the surface plasmon absorption. Under simulated sunlight exposure, the temperature of optimal Au@AgNIF was increased to be 66.9 °C to meet the requirement for photothermal bacterial eradication. Furthermore, the Au@AgNIFs demonstrated a consistent photothermal effect during the cyclic on/off exposure to light. For photothermal therapy, the Au@AgNIFs revealed superior efficiency in the photothermal eradication of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). With their unique nanoisland nanostructure, the Au@AgNIFs exhibited excellent growth efficiency of bacteria in comparison with that of the bare glass substrate. The Au@AgNIFs were also validated as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate to amplify the Raman signals of E. coli and S. aureus. By integrating photothermal therapy and SERS detection, the Au@AgNIFs were revealed to be a potential platform for bacterial theranostics.

Weak oxidant fraction in the microwave plasma influencing the evolution of nanocrystalline-diamond–imbedded diamond–like carbon network at low temperatures and its orbital hybridization dependent wide optical band gaps

The diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films having intrinsic nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) components were synthesized on bare glass substrates at 300 °C, employing a (C2H2/CO2/H2/) gas mixture in MW-PECVD. Relevant influence of the weak oxidant fraction [F = CO2/(CO2 + C2H2)] in the plasma on the specific hybridized constituents (sp3 and sp2) in the C-network, optical transmission characteristics of the film, and its accomplished degree of nanocrystallinity were investigated. A substantial segment of the NCD was achieved in the DLC matrix. An optimized diamond-phase component corresponding to the minimized bond angle disorder in the matrix was accounted from the manifestation of the maxima of IDia/IG and IDia/ID simultaneous to the minimum of ID/IG ratio in Raman response, along with an allied diamond peak appearing near 1332 cm−1. The optimal DLC film at F = 0.23 revealed a wide optical band gap (Eg) of ∼3.60 eV, ∼59% sp3-hybridized C component of the diamond phase, and a significant sp3/sp2 ratio of ∼2.1. The film microstructure seemed homogeneous with uniformly distributed NCDs of average diameter ∼7.5 nm and dominant 〈111〉 crystallographic orientation. The sp3/sp2 fraction in the film matrix has been correlated directly to the IDia/IG and IDia/ID, and inversely to ID/IG ratios of the Raman data. Atomic-O, including atomic-H, remains instrumental in chemical reactions, facilitating the etching of graphitic and a-C phases while preserving the superior sp3-hybridized NCD component growing uninterruptedly in the DLC network that subsists shielded from the high-energy ion impact within secondary plasma under the shadow mask.

Composite nanostructure comprising silver nanopyramids and silver nanoparticles for plasmon-enhanced fluorescence

In this study, a composite silver nanostructure is presented to serve as the platform for highly efficient plasmon-enhanced fluorescence (PEF). The composite nanostructure is realized by first employing nanosphere lithography (NPL) combined with reactive ion etching (RIE) technology to create a silver nanopyramid array, which is then further modified with silver nanoparticles. Utilizing DCJTB as the fluorophore, this composite nanostructure is found to outperform the use of either silver nanoparticles or silver nanopyramid array. Notably, it not only enhances the photoluminescence (PL) but also reduces the carrier lifetime. The influence of the particle size of silver nanoparticles and the height of the silver nanopyramids is also investigated. It is found that larger silver nanoparticles and higher silver nanopyramids lead to stronger local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), thereby enhancing the PEF phenomenon. Compared with the performance of using bare glass substrate, the PL intensity of using the composite nanostructure is enhanced to 19.4 times and the carrier lifetime is shortened by 61%.

Novel Antifouling Coatings by Zwitterionic Silica Grafting on Glass Substrates.

Zwitterionic silica coatings for surface functionalization are greatly prominent because of their simple and fast preparation, high availability, and effective antifouling properties. In this work, two zwitterionic sulfobetaine silane coatings, i.e., mono-SBSi and tris-SBSi, were deposited on glass surfaces and tested for antifouling of biological material and biofilm using human cancer cell and seawater, respectively. The used zwitterionic precursors mono-SBSi and tris-SBSi differ by the number of hydrolyzable silane groups: mono-SBSi contains one trimethoxysilane group, whereas tris-SBSi contains three of these functions. First, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates the successful grafting of zwitterionic coatings onto a glass surface. Characterization using atomic force microscopy shows the different morphologies and roughness of the two coatings. The glass surface became more hydrophilic after the grafting of zwitterionic coatings than the bare glass substrate. The antifouling properties of two coatings were evaluated via human cancer cell adsorption. Interestingly, the tris-SBSi coating displays a significantly lower level of cell adsorption compared to that of both mono-SBSi coating and the non-modified control surface. The same trend was observed for biofilm formation in seawater. Finally, the toxicity of mono-SBSi and tris-SBSi coatings was evaluated on zebrafish embryos, indicating the good biocompatibility of both coatings. Our results indicate interesting antifouling properties of zwitterionic coatings. The chemical constitution of the used precursor has an impact on the antifouling properties of the formed coating: the tris-SBSi-based zwitterionic silica coatings display improved antifouling properties compared to those of the mono-SBSi-based coating. Besides, the use of trisilylated precursors should result in the formation of more resistant and robust coatings due to the higher number of grafting functions. For all these reasons, we anticipate that tris-SBSi coatings will open new perspectives for antifouling applications for biological environments and implants.

Dual-color photoluminescence modulation of zero-dimensional hybrid copper halide microcrystals.

Zero-dimensional hybrid copper(I) halides (HCHs) are attractive due to their interesting photoluminescence (PL) properties and the high abundance and low toxicity of copper. In this study, we report green-red dual emission from rhombic 1-butyl-1-methyl piperidinium copper bromide [(Bmpip)2Cu2Br4] microcrystals (MCs) prepared on borosilicate glass. The structure and elemental composition of the MCs are characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Interestingly, MCs prepared on an ITO-coated glass plate show an intense green emission compared to the dual emission on a bare glass or plastic substrate. Furthermore, the intensity of the green emission from the MC is enormously increased by powdering using a conductive material, suggesting the deactivation of the red-emitting state by a charge transfer interaction with the conductor. These findings open a new strategy to suppress the self-trapping of excitons by longitudinal optical phonons and control the dual emitting states in HCHs.

Thermoelectric Sensor with CuI Supported on Rough Glass.

Thermoelectric generators convert heat into a potential difference with arrays of p- and n-type materials, a process that allows thermal energy harvesting and temperature detection. Thermoelectric sensors have attracted interest in relation to the creation of temperature and combustible gas sensors due to their simple operation principle and self-powering ability. CuI is an efficient p-type thermoelectric material that can be readily produced from a Cu layer by an iodination method. However, the vapor iodination of Cu has the disadvantage of weak adhesion on a bare glass substrate due to stress caused by crystal growth, limiting microfabrication applications of this process. This work presents a rough soda-lime glass substrate with nanoscale cavities to support the growth of a CuI layer, showing good adhesion and enhanced thermoelectric sensitivity. A rough glass sample with nanocavities is developed by reactive ion etching of a photoresist-coated glass sample in which aggregates of carbon residuals and the accumulation of NaF catalyze variable etching rates to produce local isotropic etching and roughening. A thermoelectric sensor consists of 41 CuI/In-CoSb3 thermoelectric leg pairs with gold electrodes for electrical interconnection. A thermoelectric leg has a width of 25 μm, a length of 3 mm, and a thickness of 1 μm. The thermoelectric response results in an open-circuit voltage of 13.7 mV/K on rough glass and 0.9 mV/K on bare glass under ambient conditions. Rough glass provides good mechanical interlocking and introduces important variations of the crystallinity and composition in the supported thermoelectric layers, leading to enhanced thermopower.

Maximizing Fluorescence Enhancement in Metal Nanoantenna Arrays for efficient bioanalytical devices

Our investigation focused on fluorescence enhancement mechanisms using metal nanoantennas with Alexa Fluor-647. By exploiting numerical modelling tools, we fabricated non-interacting Au nanodisc arrays on glass substrates, achieving a maximum fluorescence enhancement factor of 180 at an optimal spacer thickness of approximately 10 nm. Comparative analysis with bare glass substrates revealed significant improvements in excitation and emission dynamics, attributed to nanoscale field confinement and the Purcell effect. Time- and space-resolved photoluminescence measurements unveiled a distance-dependent interaction between the fluorophore and localized plasmons, modulated by thin polyelectrolyte monolayers, with prevalent radiative processes in samples exhibiting maximum signal.

Fractal microstructure of semiconducting Sb2S3 by surfactant-assisted spin coating and its advantage in optoelectronic properties

Antimony sulfide, Sb2S3 is a mixed band gap semiconductor having a great potential in photovoltaic applications. Its thin films and nanostructures are also a proven anode material in batteries and supercapacitors. This paper presents the synthesis of a unique fern-shaped fractal microstructure of Sb2S3 grown over bare glass substrate using a spin-coating assisted by Triton-X-100 surfactant. The FE-SEM images confirm the fractal formation spanning over hundreds of micrometers. The film exhibits a direct band gap of 1.62 eV. The photoluminescence spectra reveal a strong emission peak at 800 nm (1.55 eV) indicating radiative transitions from sub-band gap states. The surfactant, Triton-X-100, is found to be primarily responsible for forming the ‘Fern’ shaped fractals which have a fractal dimension of 1.84. Without the surfactant, a porous microstructure of Sb2S3 film is observed. The fractality is also associated with lower strain in the film leading to a reduced point defects which would otherwise act as potential recombination centers.

Fabrication of antireflective coatings with self-cleaning function using Si–Ti modified hollow silicon mixed sol

The antireflective coating (ARC) is fabricated by the sol-gel method using mixed sol modified by Si–Ti composite sol. The effects of the mixing ratio of Si–Ti composite sol and hollow silica sol on the surface morphology, optical properties, mechanical properties, and wetting ability of the ARC were studied. Moreover, the self-cleaning ability and environmental stability were examined via dip coating the modified sol on glass substrates. The proposed ARC exhibited a total solar-weighted transmittance (Тsw) of more than 94.97% over a wavelength range of 380–1100 nm, significantly higher than that of the bare glass substrate (Тsw = 90.62%). After modification, the proposed ARC exhibited a hardness of 3 H. In addition, the coating presented an extremely hydrophilic surface with a minimum water contact angle of less than 5°. Water droplets resulted in the formation of a water film on the ARC surface, which could significantly reduce the adverse effects of subsequent pollutants on the coating transmittance; simultaneously, owing to the introduction of TiO2, the coating could oxidatively decompose organic contamination. Finally, damp test results showed that the ARC transmittance only decreased by 0.05%, indicating good environmental stability.

Metal Oxide Nanostructures Enhanced Microfluidic Platform for Efficient and Sensitive Immunofluorescence Detection of Dengue Virus.

Rapid and sensitive detection of Dengue virus remains a critical challenge in global public health. This study presents the development and evaluation of a Zinc Oxide nanorod (ZnO NR)-surface-integrated microfluidic platform for the early detection of Dengue virus. Utilizing a seed-assisted hydrothermal synthesis method, high-purity ZnO NRs were synthesized, characterized by their hexagonal wurtzite structure and a high surface-to-volume ratio, offering abundant binding sites for bioconjugation. Further, a comparative analysis demonstrated that the ZnO NR substrate outperformed traditional bare glass substrates in functionalization efficiency with 4G2 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Subsequent optimization of the functionalization process identified 4% (3-Glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) as the most effective surface modifier. The integration of this substrate within a herringbone-structured microfluidic platform resulted in a robust device for immunofluorescence detection of DENV-3. The limit of detection (LOD) for DENV-3 was observed to be as low as 3.1 × 10-4 ng/mL, highlighting the remarkable sensitivity of the ZnO NR-integrated microfluidic device. This study emphasizes the potential of ZnO NRs and the developed microfluidic platform for the early detection of DENV-3, with possible expansion to other biological targets, hence paving the way for enhanced public health responses and improved disease management strategies.

Plasmonic inhibition of bacterial adhesion on gold-decorated mesoporous zirconium oxide thin films

Preventing bacterial development on surfaces is essential to avoid problems caused by biofouling. Surfaces decorated with gold nanoparticles have been shown to thermally kill bacteria under high-intensity NIR illumination. In this study, we evaluated the colonization by E. coli of nanostructured surfaces composed of mesoporous zirconia thin films, both with and without gold nanoparticles embedded into the pores. We studied the effect of the nanostructure and of low intensity visible light excitation of the gold nanoparticles on the colonization process. We found that neither the zirconia, nor the presence of pores, or even gold nanoparticles affect bacterial adhesion compared to the bare glass substrate. Therefore, mesoporous zirconia thin films are biologically inert scaffolds that enable the construction of robust surfaces containing functional nanoparticles that can affect bacterial growth. When the gold containing surfaces are irradiated with light, bacterial adhesion shows a remarkable 96 ± 4% reduction. Our studies revealed that these surfaces affect early colonization steps, prior to biofilm formation, preventing bacterial adhesion without affecting its viability. In contrast to related systems where plasmonic excitation induces membrane damage due to strong local heating, the membrane integrity is preserved, showing that these surfaces have a different working principle.

Long‐term and fast‐bactericidal activity of methacrylamide‐based copolymer for antibiofilm coatings and antibacterial wipes applications

AbstractBacterial‐related infections can be hazardous for human health and the surrounding environment. Traditional antibiotic‐based treatments for these infections are increasingly ineffective due to the emergence of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial peptide mimics have emerged as promising replacements owing to their potency against bacteria and lack of susceptibility to generate resistant cells. Thus, we synthesized a random copolymer, consisting of aminopropyl methacrylamide and benzyl methacrylamide (AB polymer) by random co‐polymerization that mimics host–defense antimicrobial peptides. For its use as a coating, the AB polymer is drop‐casted onto a cleaned glass substrate and tested for its antibacterial activity toward Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, wherein almost 99% of antibacterial activity was observed within 5 min. The prepared coating also possessed excellent longevity characteristics of up to 5 weeks. The AB polymer is also able to inhibit biofilm formation as well as disrupt a mature biofilm and can also be employed as an antibacterial wipe for cleaning bacterial contaminated surfaces. Mechanism study through SEM analysis showed that the AB polymer ruptures the bilayer membrane of both bacterial strains, thereby leading to pore formation causing cell death. Cell viability study depicted that 71% of the A549 lung carcinoma epithelial cells are viable compared to 80% on bare glass substrate. Thus, the synthesized AB polymer may be used in a variety of antibacterial applications directly in the form of solution (wipes) or forming a coating (drop casted/spray coated) for battling bacterial colonization.

Sm doped Co3O4: Development of a low-cost high-performance photodetector for optoelectronic devices

Undoped and Sm doped cobalt oxide (Co3O4) thin films were successfully deposited onto bare glass substrates using a nebulizer spray technique. The Sm weight concentration varied from 1 % to 4 %. To investigate the effects of doping on the crystal shape, structure, emission, and light absorption characteristics of the deposited Co3O4 films, an analysis employing various analytical techniques was carried out. The electrical properties of the thin films are studied utilizing a Keithley source meter. All of the developed Co3O4 films reveal a cubic spinel structure. Nanocrystalline grains and some overgrown clusters are seen in the Co3O4 morphology and were found to vary with the concentration of Sm (1, 2, 3, and 4 wt%). With a rise in the number of Sm dopants in the Co3O4 films, the mean grain size is observed to increase as observed through FESEM images. The energy-dispersive X-ray examination of the Co3O4:Sm 3 % sample confirms the presence of Co, O, and Sm elements. The 3 % Sm-doped Co3O4 thin film exhibits a greater absorption value and a lower transmittance, according to the optical studies. Additionally, it was revealed that the optical band gap value decreases from 2.23 to 2.11 eV and 1.48–1.45 eV as Sm doping concentration was increased from 0 % to 3 %. The 3 % Sm doped Co3O4 thin film sample reveals a maximum photocurrent of 9.32 × 10−5A. Thus it is established that the addition of Sm doping to Co3O4 increases its photo detecting capabilities, making it a favorable option for use in photo-detectors.

Application of single cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) to the assessment of cell adhesion to peptide-decorated surfaces

The adhesion forces of cells to peptide-coated functionalized materials were assessed through the Single Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS) technique in order to develop a methodology that allows the fast selection of peptide motifs that favor the interaction between cells and the biomaterial. Borosilicate glasses were functionalized using the activated vapor silanization process (AVS) and subsequently decorated with an RGD- containing peptide using the EDC/NHS crosslinking chemistry.It is shown that the RGD-coated glass induces larger attachment forces on mesenchymal stem cell cultures (MSCs), compared to the bare glass substrates. These higher forces correlate well with the enhanced adhesion of the MSCs observed on RGD-coated substrates through conventional adhesion cell cultures and inverse centrifugation tests. The methodology based on the SCFS technique presented in this work constitutes a fast procedure for the screening of new peptides or their combinations to select candidates that may enhance the response of the organism to the implant of the functionalized biomaterials.

Tailoring the structural and optical properties of fabricated TiO2 thin films by O2 duty cycle in reactive gas-timing magnetron sputtering

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films were deposited on silicon (100) and glass substrates via conventional reactive sputtering and reactive gas-timing (RGT) sputtering techniques. The duty cycle of supplied O2 gas determined its effect on the properties of the TiO2 films through spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). With the best triple-layer model for SE fitting, the films' structure and optical properties were analyzed and compared. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) showed good agreement with the structure of the SE model, while the grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) confirmed the crystallinity of the films. The results showed that the duty cycle was a crucial factor in the deposition rate and crystalline phase of the TiO2 films. The optical reflectance (%R) spectra were measured by a UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer, representing anti-reflection properties at a specific wavelength related to the duty cycle. Moreover, the omnidirectional optical transmittance (Omni-T) profiles were also determined. The results showed that the transmittances (%T) of TiO2 film near those specific wavelengths were enhanced over the bare glass substrate at a wide angle. In addition, photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) was used to confirm the chemical states and atomic compositions.

A Test of Sol–Gel Incorporation of Organic Compounds as Translucent, Marine Biofouling-Resistant Windows

Organic compounds, including antimicrobial agents azithromycin and hydrous allicin extracts, were sequestered in a silicate sol–gel matrix to function as a biofouling-resistant window for oceanographic instrumentation. The windows fabricated in this manner resisted the formation of microbial biofilms (the precursor to settlement of larger macro-fouling organisms) for up to a week and maintained low levels of fouling for 3 weeks, whereas bare glass substrates form biofilms within hours of seawater submersion. The technique shows promise for the construction of additional translucent solids and coatings using other environmentally friendly biocides.