A Nanocomposite Coating Inspired by “Mussel Chemistry” and “Brick-and-Mortar” Architecture for Long-Term Marine Antifouling and Anticorrosion

The detrimental effects of marine biofouling and metal corrosion on the functionality and maintenance of marine equipment are profound. Traditional protective coatings exhibit limited efficacy and are inadequate in addressing the evolving demands of the marine industry today. Inspired by the robust adhesion mechanisms employed by mussels and the distinctive "brick-and-mortar" architecture of their shells, a novel bioinspired nanocomposite coating boasting antifouling and anticorrosion capabilities was fabricated by integrating tannic acid (TA)/adipohydrazide (ADH)-modified graphene oxide (GO) (TDGO) as "brick" into an organosilane-modified epoxy (EPUR) serving as "mortar". The high-density hydrogen bonds formed at the TDGO/EPUR interface resulted in robust interfacial interactions to acquire composites with inverse nacre structures, while the intermolecular interactions significantly enhanced the strength and toughness of the composite material. The fouling release characteristics of low-surface-energy surfaces, combined with the antibacterial properties of TA, yield exceptional physicochemical antifouling synergy, demonstrating formidable resistance against biofoulings. The volume and labyrinth effect of TDGO and the coordination effect of TA effectively enhanced the anticorrosion performance of the coating. Additionally, the coating exhibits remarkable mechanical properties and substrate adhesion, satisfactory thermal stability, outstanding stability in acid and alkaline solutions, and exceptional self-healing capability under thermal stimulation, indicating substantial potential for the creation of bioinspired antifouling and anticorrosion coatings for marine applications.