Bio-inspired surfaces for fouling resistance

Abstract

Fouling exerts numerous negative effects on marine structures, household facilities, and textiles by decreasing efficiency and increasing maintenance costs. Conventional antifouling methods are often single-foulant-targeted, short-lived, and harmful to the environment. In contrast, bioinspired designs offer a sustainable alternative by drawing inspiration from natural antifoulants such as lotus leaves, shark skin, pitcher plants, and fish mucus. These strategies exhibit properties like super-hydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and lubrication. Recent advances include micro/nano-structured surfaces, mucus-like hydrogels, slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPSs), and zwitterionic polymers. To further elucidate the hydrodynamic mechanisms underlying these designs, a simple COMSOL simulation was performed to conceptually illustrate how modeling can complement experimental studies in understanding foulant–surface interactions. This review introduces fouling mechanisms, compares bioinspired strategies in different contexts, and highlights the potential of multifunctional antifouling surfaces in various industrial areas.