Issue 18, 2024

Designing a photocatalytic and self-renewed g-C3N4 nanosheet/poly-Schiff base composite coating towards long-term biofouling resistance

Abstract

Inhibiting the adhesion and growth of marine microorganisms through photocatalysis is a potentially efficient and environmentally friendly antifouling strategy. However, the undesired “shading effect” caused by resin coatings and microbial deposition reduces the utilization of the catalysts and leads to a failure in the antifouling active substance on the coating surface. Here, we successfully developed a composite coating (DPC-x) combining g-C3N4 nanosheet (g-C-NS) photocatalysts with degradable green poly-Schiff base resins, which integrates the dual functions of enhanced dynamic self-renewal and photocatalytic antibacterial activities towards long-term anti-biofouling. The controllable and complete degradability of the poly-Schiff base polymer chains and the self-renewal mechanism of the DPC-x coating exposed the internal g-C-NS, which provided a constant stream of photocatalytic reactive interfaces for 100% utilization and release of the photocatalysts. g-C-NS were homogeneously dispersed in the degradable resin coating, significantly enhancing and adjusting the self-renewal rate of the poly-Schiff base resin coating in visible light. The degradation reaction rate of DPC-0.2 (20 wt% g-C-NS) was 40 times that of DPC, thus improving the capabilities of surface self-renewal and fouling-release. Due to the synergistic antifouling mechanism of the efficient antibacterial properties and the enhanced degradation/self-renewal, the antimicrobial rates of DPC and DPC-0.2 were 94.58% and 99.31% in the dark, and 98.2% and 99.87% in visible light. DPC-x has excellent all-weather antimicrobial efficacy and could offer a new perspective on eco-friendly marine antifouling strategies.

Graphical abstract: Designing a photocatalytic and self-renewed g-C3N4 nanosheet/poly-Schiff base composite coating towards long-term biofouling resistance

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
08 5 2024
Accepted
21 6 2024
First published
24 6 2024

Mater. Horiz., 2024,11, 4438-4453

Designing a photocatalytic and self-renewed g-C3N4 nanosheet/poly-Schiff base composite coating towards long-term biofouling resistance

S. Wu, M. Yan, Y. Wu, Y. Wu, X. Lan, J. Cheng and W. Zhao, Mater. Horiz., 2024, 11, 4438 DOI: 10.1039/D4MH00550C

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