Film Layer Research Articles

Production and characterization of encapsulated Thymoquinone loaded bacterial cellulose/chitosan composite nano film and investigation of its in vitro antibacterial activity.

In this study, nanostructured thin films were produced from thymoquinone (TQ)-loaded composites encapsulated with different ratios of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) to chitosan (CS). The study aimed to investigate their characterization, antibacterial effects, and potential as drug film coating materials. Chemical features and morphological characteristics were determined, and release tests and antibacterial assays were conducted on the thin film layers. As a result, BNC/CS-thymoquinone composite films obtained at different ratios were found to exhibit the highest antibacterial effect, particularly films with a 70% BNC/CS to 30% thymoquinone ratio, against Salmonella typhimurium bacteria.

Application of interlayer perforation and installation of transparent elements in the technology of duplicated decorative polymer films

Objectives. To develop technologies for producing multilayer films of transparent thermoplastic polymers; to study methods of modifying their supramolecular structure; and to determine their optical properties by means of optical-polarization methods for the use of modified films as decorative and design materials in modern architecture.Methods. Industrial samples of polystyrene, low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride films from various manufacturers (Don Polimer, Vektor, and Sibur) were the objects of the study. The optical properties of the films were studied by means polarized-light spectrophotometry. In order to modify the supramolecular structure of the polymers, the surfaces of the films were treated under isometric conditions with volatile solvents or their aqueous solutions. Parts of the layers of multilayer films were removed by cutting with a punching knife using a press or with a manual device for perforating printing materials.Results. The spectral characteristics of multilayer films of several transparent thermoplastic polymers in polarized light were determined. The study showed that a wide palette of colors and contrasting images can be obtained by mechanically removing part of the layers of multilayer films. The phenomenon of pseudo-disappearance of the outermost layer was discovered after treatment of a stack of films under isometric conditions with volatile solvents or their aqueous solutions.Conclusions. Based on the example of large-scale production thermoplastics, it was shown that a combination of technological methods of stacking, perforation, and local plasticization of films of transparent thermoplastic polymers can produce pleochroic multicolor materials for a range of human activities. The possibility of hidden coding of information on multilayer packaging materials, and its visualization and instrumental reading in polarized light was confirmed by color differential and contrast of 150 and 60 units, respectively. It was also shown that several monochrome tones of different lightness and brightness can be obtained by varying the number of layers or perforating the films in multilayer materials.

Biomimetic bilayer phase change hydrogels with enhanced water adsorption and desorption for evaporative cooling

Hygroscopic hydrogels, reliable carriers for water-based evaporative materials, undergo shrinkage after evaporative cooling, and the consequent reduction in hygroscopic sites can significantly impair their recyclability in cooling period. To realize cyclic evaporative cooling for rapid regeneration and evaporation, bilayer phase change hydrogel (BPH) concept combining an upper layer of hygroscopic polymer film (CaCl2@ carboxymethyl cellulose/konjac glucomannan films, CaCl2@CMC/KGM, MAF) with a lower layer of hygroscopic hydrogel (CaCl2@poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium tetraborate decahydrate hydrogel, CaCl2@PVA/Borax, PCH), is presented in this paper. The high liquid–vapor phase change enthalpy of BPH (1274 J/g) enables it to continuously and rapidly remove heat. Benefiting from the MAF hygroscopic porous skeleton, the saturated BPH exhibited a faster water evaporation rate (2.15 kg m−2 h−1) and comparable water vapor transmission rate (1.61 kg m−2 h−1) at 50 °C. After being heated at 50 °C for 1 h, BPH requires 9h to regain its initial mass at 25 °C, 90 % RH. Fifteen moisture adsorption–desorption cycles demonstrate the excellent cyclic regeneration capability of BPH. COMSOL Multiphysics simulation results indicate that evaporative cooling in BPH provides excellent heat dissipation (reduced by about 27 °C). BPH reduces the peak temperatures of a mobile phone by 7.8 °C while charging and 6.5 °C while gaming. This design will contribute to the future cooling of heat-related devices and global sustainability.

Study of endogenous chloride ion content on the behavior of steel bar depassivation in sea sand concrete

In this study, we investigated the chloride concentration in sea sand that induces corrosion in steel bars, as well as the corrosion mechanisms of steel bar within sea sand concrete. Different analytical techniques indicated that the chloride concentration for steel bar corrosion in sea sand concrete was 0.03 % (when the water-binder ratio was in the range of 0.4–0.6). First, the calcium silicate in sea sand concrete reacted with Fe3+ to reduce the compactness of the oxide layer and increase the corrosion risk of steel bars. Second, as the water-binder ratio and chloride concentration gradually increased, the loose structure of the passive film increased, and the relatively dense structure decreased, which made it easier for chloride ions to penetrate the outer layer of the passive film to erode the steel matrix. Besides, the reaction of chloride ions with C3A to form Friedel's salt optimized the pore structure and reduced the content of free chloride ions. However, the adverse effect of chloride ions on the passive film of steel bars exceeded the beneficial impact of porosity reduction. These findings allow us to better apply sea sand to improve the sustainable development of environment.

Electrochemical CO2 Reduction in Acidic Electrolytes: Spectroscopic Evidence for Local pH Gradients.

Inspired by recent advances in electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2R) under acidic conditions, herein we leverage in situ spectroscopy to inform the optimization of CO2R at low pH. Using attenuated total reflection surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (ATR-SEIRAS) and fluorescent confocal laser scanning microscopy, we investigate the role that alkali cations (M+) play on electrochemical CO2R. This study hence provides important information related to the local electrode surface pH under bulk acidic conditions for CO2R, both in the presence and absence of an organic film layer, at variable [M+]. We show that in an acidic electrolyte, an appropriate current density can enable CO2R in the absence of metal cations. In situ local pH measurements suggest the local [H+] must be sufficiently depleted to promote H2O reduction as the competing reaction with CO2R. Incrementally incorporating [K+] leads to increases in the local pH that promotes CO2R but only at proton consumption rates sufficient to drive the pH up dramatically. Stark tuning measurements and analysis of surface water structure reveal no change in the electric field with [M+] and a desorption of interfacial water, indicating that improved CO2R performance is driven by suppression of H+ mass transport and modification of the interfacial solvation structure. In situ pH measurements confirm increasing local pH, and therefore decreased local [CO2], with [M+], motivating alternate means of modulating proton transport. We show that an organic film formed via in situ electrodeposition of an organic additive provides a means to achieve selective CO2R (FECO2R ∼ 65%) over hydrogen evolution reaction in the presence of strong acid (pH 1) and low cation concentrations (≤0.1 M) at both low and high current densities.

Zr-based conversion film fabricated on cold rolled steel by separately providing zirconium and fluorine ions: Performance and mechanism study

Controlling the concentrations of Zr4+ and F− in traditional Zirconium (Zr)-based film-formation solution is challenging due to their dependence on the hydrolytic equilibrium of H2ZrF6. In this study, Zr-based films were prepared on cold rolled steel surface through the film-formation solution prepared by mixing Zr(NO3)4 and different amount of HF. The electrochemical results demonstrated that the Zr-based film prepared by Zr(NO3)4 and HF exhibited superior corrosion resistance compared to H2ZrF6. Under optimal film formation conditions, the protective efficiency of the prepared film reached 74.4 % which was higher than that of film fabricated in H2ZrF6. The electrochemical results concurrently demonstrated the self-reinforcing anti-corrosion performance of the prepared films. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the Zr film, prepared in Zr(NO3)4 and HF, exhibited excellent corrosion resistance attributed to its high film density. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopic results indicated the presence of a fluoride layer on the surface of the Zr film. The F− ions can chelate with the corrosion products and selectively deposit onto the damaged areas of the film, thereby effectively contributing to the repair of the film layer. The results of density functional theory calculations demonstrated that Zr4+ readily forms Zr(OH)4 rather than ZrF62−. The present study offers an enhanced approach for regulating the properties of films prepared via H2ZrF6 by separately providing zirconium and fluorine ions.

Influence behavior and mechanism of double-layer Gr stacking configuration on mechanical strength and thermoelectric transport properties of Cu/Gr composites

The mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity of Cu/graphene (Gr) composites with Cu (111)/double-layer Gr/Cu (111) structure were investigated by using density functional theory and semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory. The results indicate that, the chemical bonds were generated between the two layers of Gr film, and the maximum charge densities of Gr-Top stacking configuration and Gr-Hollow stacking configuration are 0.104 and 0.118 e/Å3, respectively. Gr-Hollow stacking configuration has the larger mechanical strength and plasticity than Gr-Top stacking configuration. Although the covalent characteristic for the two stacking configurations is identical, the ionic characteristic of Gr-Top stacking configuration is stronger than Gr-Hollow stacking configuration. Therefore, the electron localization of Gr-Top stacking configuration is much stronger, leading to the smaller number of free electrons. The electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity of Gr-Hollow stacking configuration are 2.55 times and 1.63 times those of Gr-Top stacking configuration was achieved. Moreover, as the external longitudinal strain from 0 % to 15 % applied on Cu (111)/double-layer Gr/Cu (111) structure, the thermoelectric transport properties of Gr-Hollow stacking configuration are greater than Gr-Top stacking configuration, while as the strain are 20 % and 25 %, Gr-Top stacking configuration has the larger electric conductivity and thermal conductivity instead.

Enhanced and tunable near-field thermophotovoltaics driven by hybrid polaritons

Near-field thermophotovoltaics (NF-TPV) offers the potential for achieving elevated power density and conversion efficiency by leveraging the amplification of thermal radiation within a nanoscale gap. Here, we propose an NF-TPV device with a sandwich emitter composed of calcite film and graphene layer. The results show that this sandwich configuration can significantly enhance output power, outperforming monolayer-graphene-covered heterostructures and the single calcite film. These are because the sandwich configuration can enhance hybrid polaritons, which are formed by the coupling between surface plasmon polaritons in graphene and hyperbolic phonon polaritons in calcite. In addition, the effects of graphene chemical potentials on the performance of NF-TPV devices are also studied. The tunable power density range of the sandwich structure can be up to 3.26 times that of other structures by altering the chemical potential of graphene. The findings presented here may unpack a promising path for enhancing and manipulating the performance of NF-TPV at the nano- and microscale.

Recent Progress and Applications of NanoIR‐AFM in Morphological Characterization of Organic Solar Cells

AbstractOrganic solar cells (OSCs) are gaining attention in building‐integrated and agricultural photovoltaics due to their light weight, mechanical flexibility, and low‐cost solution processability. To achieve commercial viability, understanding the relationships between active layer material structure, film morphology, and photovoltaic performance is crucial. Nanoscale infrared spectroscopy coupled with atomic force microscopy (nanoIR‐AFM) offers an advanced characterization of active layer morphology at high resolution to help understand OSC performance. This review outlines recent developments and applications of nanoIR‐AFM in OSC research, detailing its principles, instruments, and functions. Strategies to enhance OSC performance and their morphological characterization by nanoIR‐AFM are discussed, offering insights into active layer evolution and device performance. The review highlights challenges faced by nanoIR‐AFM in OSC applications and highlights its potential role in advancing OSC technology. As nanoIR‐AFM continues to evolve, it will play a critical role in OSC development, providing essential technical means for further progress.

Selectable growth and electronic structures of two-dimensional layered InSe and In2Se3 films

Selectable growth and electronic structures of two-dimensional layered InSe and In2Se3 films

Metalorganic Vapor‐Phase Epitaxy of +c/−c GaN Polarity Inverted Bilayer for Transverse Quasi‐Phase‐Matched Wavelength Conversion Device

Photon‐pair generation based on optical parametric down‐conversion has attracted for the application as a light source for quantum information. Highly efficient wavelength‐conversion devices require a polarity‐inversion structure when using nitride semiconductors. A transverse quasi‐phase‐matching (QPM) polarity‐inverted GaN bilayer channel waveguide device is suitable for efficient wavelength conversion. This study designed a cross‐section device to satisfy the modal dispersion phase‐matching condition between the TM02 mode pump light and the TM00 mode signal/idler light. Moreover, an AlN oxidation interlayer fabricates the Ga‐polar/N‐polar (+c/−c) GaN layers via metalorganic vapor‐phase epitaxy (MOVPE). A 145 nm thick film layer with a macro‐step‐free surface is grown by optimizing the −c‐GaN growth conditions and reducing the substrate off‐angle to 0.2°. Next, the AlN layer is oxidized in an electric furnace and MOVPE is used to regrow a 1500 nm thick +c‐GaN layer. A macrosteps‐free surface can be achieved by reducing the off‐angle to 0.2° and optimizing the −c‐GaN growth conditions to avoid hillock formation. These results pave the way for improving the efficiency of GaN transverse QPM wavelength‐conversion devices.

Emulsions stabilized by phospholipids

HypothesisPhospholipids are amphiphilic molecules able to adsorb at oil/water interfaces and thus used to stabilize parenteral emulsions. Yet, their low preferred curvature, which sensitively depends on molecular structures and interactions, favors the formation of lamellar phases and sets constraints on the system formulation. Combining phase studies, structural interfacial characterizations, and stability monitoring for different water/phospholipid/oil systems should shine a light on the mechanisms at play and thus tools to optimize formulations. ExperimentsFour phase diagrams were established for ternary aqueous systems containing either DOPC or POPC as the phospholipid and hexadecane or miglyol 812 as the oil. Droplet interfaces were probed using small-angle neutron scattering and the amount of adsorbed lipid was determined using separation and Raman spectroscopy. The metastability of both nano and macro emulsions was systematically assessed over weeks using light scattering. FindingsWe show that nanoemulsion droplets are stabilized by a lipid monolayer and display excellent metastability if the preferred curvature is positive and large enough, even without any added charges or at high ionic strengths. In contrast, macroemulsion droplets are stabilized with a lipid multilayer, which should possess a positive preferred curvature but also a good enough interfacial anchorage, which is lost upon increasing the preferred curvature. Overall, we provide a rationale for understanding the impact of molecular changes in the formulation on emulsion metastability, through the analysis of the lipid film preferred curvature, layering, and interfacial anchorage.

Microfluidic Device with an Oxygen Gradient Generator for Investigating Effects of Specific Hypoxia Conditions on Responses of Tumor Cells.

The oxygen level in the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a critical role in regulating cell fates such as proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and so forth. To better elucidate how hypoxia affects tumor cell behaviors, a series of microfluidic strategies have been utilized to generate an oxygen gradient covering both hypoxia and normoxia conditions. However, in most studies, some chemicals are introduced into microfluidic chips, causing the potential of their poor biocompatibility. The common oxygen gradient with linear variation does not allow the effects of specific oxygen concentrations on tumor cells to be analyzed accurately. In this paper, based on the physical method of gas diffusion, a microfluidic device integrated with an oxygen gradient generator is proposed for investigating effects of different hypoxia levels on responses of tumor cells. This device consists of three layers, i.e., upper layer, thin film layer, and bottom layer. The upper layer is used for introducing the initial gas and generating an oxygen gradient in the form of gas. The bottom layer is used for introducing cells and culture medium. The thin film layer separates the former two layers, allowing the gas to diffuse from the top to the bottom through it. The oxygen gradient in the bottom layer is finally generated in the form of dissolved oxygen. The device is fabricated using microfabrication technology. The effects of structural and working parameters of the device on the oxygen gradient are evaluated by finite element simulation. The oxygen gradient in cell culture channels is characterized by using oxygen-sensitive fluorescence materials. The proliferation and morphology of HeLa cells under specific oxygen levels are compared after culturing for 48 h. The oxygen gradient with a ladder-like distribution demonstrates that this microfluidic device can provide a prospective experimental platform for in vitro cell studies and revelation of the mechanism of tumor metastasis associated with a specific hypoxic microenvironment.

Recognition of the lumbar spine using MRI plane-based FiLM conditioning and patient dependent batching on semantic segmentation

Abstract Lower back pain (LBP) is a common symptom that can be linked to the degeneration of intervertebral discs or injuries to vertebrae. Accurate segmentation of lumbar spinal structures is vital for image-based surgery planning but can be resource intensive. Recent studies have shown that U-Net models can be used reliably to segment vertebrae and intervertebral discs from medical imaging data. This study investigated the potential of combining multiple planar MRI images to segment these structures automatically. The study used MRI data from 83 patients with back pain of the lower spine, with ground truth segmentations performed by a spine surgery specialist using Mimics software. The segmentation models were trained using a specialized patient batching method and a FiLMed U-Net model, which applies a Feature-wise Linear Modulation layer to improve mask generation. The models were trained using a 10-fold cross validation study, and the dice loss was used as the objective function. The study found that both patient batching and FiLM layers improve results by around 5% compared to a baseline U-Net. The average IoU scores of the patient batching method were 0.896 for vertebrae and 0.876 intervertebral disc segmentation. The FiLMed U-Net model achieved average IoU scores of 0.844 and 0.814 and against a baseline of 0.837 and 0.774, respectively. A web-based tool was developed to enable medical personnel to assess segmentation quality visually. Overall, the study indicates that U-Nets show better segmentation potential when using imaging data with complete 3D information of one patient. Future studies should focus on increasing the dataset size and exploring other 3D model architectures to improve segmentation performance.

Enhanced propagation of free films with fast spread-out phenomena under the influence of megahertz surface acoustic waves

In this study, a novel approach for enhancing the rapid spreading of free liquid film on lithium niobate (LiNbO3) substrate under megahertz (MHz) surface acoustic wave (SAW) excitation is presented by treating it with surfactants. Through the design of a specific interdigital transducer structure, it was discovered that exciting the SAW at a frequency of 32.3 MHz can achieve optimal spreading performance for water droplets on the surface of surfactant-treated LiNbO3 substrate. The maximum average velocity reaches 1.76 mm/s at position P2 = 1250 μm in the water film front, and the stable film spreading speed shows a 204.9% increase compared to the existing research. Simultaneously, through the investigation of the spreading experiment phenomenon of silicone oil and de-ionized water droplets at varying frequencies, we have discovered the dynamic mechanism of “reverse phase” propagation in liquid film for the first time. This entails that the advancing edge of the wetting film demonstrates a spreading motion law that is opposite to the traditional spreading phenomena, with the spreading velocity in the central exceeding that on both sides. Our research demonstrates that this microfluidic device developed by SAWs enhances the spreading efficiency of the free films, enabling rapid expansion of the target liquid to form a high-surface area film layer. This advancement holds promise for overcoming the limitations of low sensitivity and short response time in the field of rapid pathological diagnosis in contemporary medicine.

Design and fabrication of metal spherical conformal thin film multisensor for high-temperature environment

Conformal thin-film sensors enable precise monitoring of the operating conditions of components in extreme environments. However, the development of these sensors encounters major challenges, especially in uniformly applying multiple film layers on complex metallic surfaces and accurately capturing diverse operational parameters. This work reports a multi-sensor design and multi-layer additive manufacturing process targeting spherical metallic substrates. The proposed high-temperature dip-coating and self-leveling fabrication process achieves high-temperature thin-film coatings with excellent uniformity, high-temperature electrical insulation, and adhesion properties. The fabricated Ag/Pt thin film thermocouple arrays and a heat flux sensor exhibit a maximum temperature resistance of up to 960 °C, with thermoelectric potential outputs and high-temperature resistance closely mirroring those of wire-based Ag/Pt thermocouples. Harsh environmental testing was conducted using high-power lasers and a flame gun. The results show that the array of thin-film conformal thermocouples more accurately reflected temperature changes at different points on a spherical surface. The heat flux sensors achieve responses within 95 ms and withstand environments with heat fluxes over 1.2 MW/m2. The proposed multi-sensor design and fabrication method offers promising monitoring applications in harsh environments, including aerospace and nuclear power.

Spaceflight associated dry eye syndrome (SADES): Radiation, stressors, and ocular surface health

Crewed spaceflight missions require careful scrutinization of the health risks including alterations to the tear film lipid layer in astronauts. We review the current literature and prior published work on tear film lipid layer biophysics and secondary spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome (SADES). We define the term spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome to describe the collection of ocular surface signs and symptoms experienced by astronauts during spaceflight. Our review covers the ocular surface and lipidomics in the spaceflight environment. From our literature review, we extrapolate biophysical principles governing the tear film layer to determine the changes that may arise from the harsh conditions of spaceflight and microgravity. Our findings provide vital information for future long-duration spaceflight, including a return to the Moon and potential missions to Mars.

Semiconductive Tendency of the Passive Film Formed on Super Austenitic Stainless Steel SR-50A in Acidic or Alkaline Chloride Solutions

Stainless steel is widely used in various industrial fields due to its excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical properties. The key to this corrosion resistance is the thin passive film that naturally forms on the metal surface. Passive films are characterized by oxide film theory and adsorption theory, each uniquely explaining the structure and mechanism of the protective film on the metal surface. Research on the semiconductive properties of passive films on stainless steel offers diverse viewpoints, classifying theories into the point defect model and the bipolar fixed charge-induced passivity. Specific changes in passive film attributes that lead to degradation, however, are not fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the inner and outer layers of the passive film on super austenitic stainless steel SR-50A under various conditions in acidic and alkaline chloride environments. The interpretations of these results were based on the point defect model and the bipolar model for the passivation mechanism, and correlations between p-type and n-type semiconductor properties and passivation behavior were examined. The surface of the stainless steel forms a passive film comprising two layers with p-type and n-type semiconductive properties, independent of the pH of the solutions. The corrosion resistance increases as the p-type and n-type semiconductive tendencies become more balanced, consequently enhancing the properties of the passive film.

A quantitative theory for heterogeneous combustion of nonvolatile metal particles in the diffusion-limited regime

The paper presents an analytical theory quantitatively describing the heterogeneous combustion of nonvolatile (metal) particles in the diffusion-limited regime. It is assumed that the particle is suspended in an unconfined, isobaric, quiescent gaseous mixture and the chemisorption of the oxygen takes place evenly on the particle surface. The analytical solution of the particle burn time is derived from the conservation equations of the gas-phase described in a spherical coordinate system with the utilization of constant thermophysical properties, evaluated at a reference film layer. This solution inherently takes the Stefan flow into account. The approximate expression of the time-dependent particle temperature is solved from the conservation of the particle enthalpy by neglecting the higher order terms in the Taylor expansion of the product of the transient particle density and diameter squared. Coupling the solutions for the burn time and time-dependent particle temperature provides quantitative results when initial and boundary conditions are specified. The theory is employed to predict the burn time and temperature of 10–100 μm iron particles, which are then compared with measurements, as the first validation case. The theoretical burn time agrees with the experiments almost perfectly at both low and high oxygen levels. The calculated particle temperature matches the measurements fairly well at relatively low oxygen mole fractions, whereas the theory overpredict the particle peak temperature due to the neglect of evaporation and the possible transition of the combustion regime.Novelty and significance statementFor the first time, we present a comprehensive and quantitative analytical theory elucidating the heterogeneous combustion of nonvolatile (metal) particles in the diffusion-limited regime. This novel theoretical model exhibits a remarkable capacity for quantitative prediction, obviating the need for supplementary information from numerical simulations or experimental data. The derivation process of analytical solutions for burn time and time-dependent particle temperature from conservation equations is elaborated, offering transparency and insight into the model’s foundations. To demonstrate the practical utility of the theory, we apply it to analyze the combustion of iron particles, providing valuable mathematical perspectives on the underlying processes. The model’s predictions for burn time and temperature align closely with experimental results, offering a partial validation of the theory within the realm of its applicable assumptions. This pioneering work contributes a robust and versatile analytical framework, advancing our understanding of diffusion-limited combustion phenomena of nonvolatile particles.

A novel high corrosion-resistant and superhydrophobic MAO-30/PA/VTES composite coating on Cu[sbnd]15Fe alloy for long-term corrosion protection

The copper (Cu) alloys are prone to severe corrosion in marine environments. In this work, we successfully develop a novel high corrosion-resistant and superhydrophobic MAO-30/PA/VTES composite coating on Cu15Fe alloy for long-term corrosion protection. The composite coating, with a corrosion rate of 0.00001 mm/y and a water contact angle of 152.7°, presents significant advantages over most Cu alloys modification methods to date. Benefiting from the modification with phytic acid (PA) and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES), the corrosion current density of the composite coating remains 2.14 × 10−10 A·cm−2 even after 168 h of immersion in 0.6 M NaCl, which is four orders of magnitude lower than Cu15Fe substrate (5.68 × 10−6 A·cm−2). The exceptional long-term corrosion resistance of the composite coating is attributed to the physical barrier effect of the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) layer, the superhydrophobic characteristics and sealing effect of the PA/VTES film layer, and the chelating effect of the phytic acid. Developing the composite coating introduces a new approach to protecting Cu alloys from corrosion in marine environments.