Liquid infused surface: An exceptional barrier to prohibit biofouling and biocorrosion
Biofouling and biocorrosion ceaselessly deteriorate stainless steel (SS) serving in seawater environment. Finding versatile coating is essential for dually solving the two problems.
In a new study, scientists employ a facile electrodeposition route to prepare hierarchical iron array matrix onto SS surface.
Following oxidation and polydopamine deposition inspired by mussel adhesion, consecutive modification with dodecanethiol realises superhydrophobic wettability. Using deep eutectic solvent (DES) as the insoluble phase to infuse superhydrophobic matrix, slippery liquid-infused porous surface (SLIPS) is formed. In seawater environment, SLIPS behaves outstanding corrosion inhibition effect.
The feature parameter for characterising corrosion inhibition Z0.01Hz of SLIPS is three orders of the magnitude higher than that of bare SS. Even being immersed in seawater for 24 days, corrosion current density of SS covered with SLIPS is still one order of magnitude lower than that of bare SS.
Biocorrosion has been steadily prohibited
Using algae, such as Navicula minima and Chlorella vulgaris, as the target biofouling organisms, SLIPS with infusion of DES behaves exceptional biofouling inhibition capability. Further, typical anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria are used for biocorrosion inhibition evaluation. Since biofouling has been depressed, the biocorrosion has been steadily prohibited.
Thus, the as-formed SLIPS performs as a promising candidate to prevent SS from both biofouling and biocorrosion in seawater environment.
The study can be found in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 136.
