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 excel-lent anti-fouling performance of the coating results from a ternary synergistic mechanism involving foul-ing 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 net-work(IPN)structure,a barrier effect,and passivation.The results show that the obtained coating pos-sesses 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 net-work of rGO/AgNPs and the hydrophilic polymer.This work provides an anti-corrosion and anti-fouling integrated coating for marine industrial equipment.