An Integrated Anti-Fouling and Anti-Corrosion Coating Enabled by rGO/AgNPs and Amphiphilic Networks

Marine corrosion and biofouling are challenges that affect marine industrial equipment, and protecting equipment with functional coatings is a simple and effective approach. However, it is extremely difficult to combine anti-corrosion and anti-fouling properties in a single coating. In this work, we combine reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with a hydrophilic polymer in a bio-based silicone-epoxy resin to create a coating with both anti-fouling and anti-corrosion properties. The excellent anti-fouling performance of the coating results from a ternary synergistic mechanism involving fouling release, contact inhibition, and a hydration effect, while the outstanding anti-corrosion performance is provided by a ternary synergistic anti-corrosion mechanism that includes a dense interpenetrating network (IPN) structure, a barrier effect, and passivation. The results show that the obtained coating possesses superior anti-fouling activity against protein, bacteria, algae, and other marine organisms, as well as excellent anti-corrosion and certain self-healing properties due to its dynamic cross-linked network of rGO/AgNPs and the hydrophilic polymer. This work provides an anti-corrosion and antifouling integrated coating for marine industrial equipment. (c) 2024 THE AUTHORS. Published by Elsevier LTD on behalf of Chinese Academy of Engineering and Higher Education Press Limited Company. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).