Achieving a delicate equilibrium between the mechanical and antifouling attributes of silicone-based coatings remains a formidable task. This research unveiled a novel approach to crafting a hybrid antifouling coating through the amalgamation of an amphiphilic telomer, Zirconia (ZrO) sol, triethoxyoctylsilane (KH832) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) using an uncomplicated sol–gel technique. The amphiphilic telomer, derived from a synthesized antibacterial acrylamide-benzothiazole small molecule, hydrophobic silanes/fluorosilanes, and hydrophilic monomers, was intricately tethered with the ZrO sol, synthesized through the hydrolysis of n-propyl zirconate. The resultant coating achieved exceptional transparency (>98 % transmittance), attributed to the covalent linkage between the robust zirconia structure and the pliable, long-chain telomer. This unique bonding imparted the coating with remarkable characteristics, including high hardness (4–6H), flexibility (∼5 mm bending diameter), wear resistance, and strong adhesion (∼2.89 MPa) to the substrate. Furthermore, the self-enrichment property of the non-leaching amphiphilic telomer within the hybrid matrix contributed to the coating’s outstanding self-cleaning capabilities, as well as its remarkable ability to resist fouling, including bacterial adhesion, protein attachment, diatom deposition, and biofilm formation. Overall, our research systematically explored the influence of composition and structure on both mechanical properties and antifouling performance. Ultimately, we sought to advance the development of a high-performance organic–inorganic hybrid antifouling coating poised to address the diverse requirements of applications spanning optical instruments, foldable displays, marine facilities, and various other fields.

中文翻译：

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透明、机械耐用的有机硅/ZrO2 溶胶混合涂层，具有增强的防污性能

在有机硅涂层的机械特性和防污特性之间实现微妙的平衡仍然是一项艰巨的任务。这项研究揭示了一种通过使用简单的溶胶-凝胶技术混合两亲性调聚物、氧化锆（ZrO）溶胶、三乙氧基辛基硅烷（KH832）和原硅酸四乙酯（TEOS）来制作混合防污涂层的新方法。两亲性调聚物源自合成的抗菌丙烯酰胺-苯并噻唑小分子、疏水性硅烷/氟硅烷和亲水性单体，与通过锆酸正丙酯水解合成的ZrO溶胶错综复杂地连接在一起。由于坚固的氧化锆结构和柔韧的长链调聚物之间的共价连接，所得涂层实现了卓越的透明度（> 98% 透射率）。这种独特的结合赋予涂层显着的特性，包括高硬度（4-6H）、柔韧性（弯曲直径~5毫米）、耐磨性以及对基材的强附着力（~2.89 MPa）。此外，杂化基质中非浸出两亲性调聚物的自富集特性使得涂层具有出色的自清洁能力，以及卓越的抗污垢能力，包括细菌粘附、蛋白质附着、硅藻沉积和生物膜。形成。总的来说，我们的研究系统地探讨了成分和结构对机械性能和防污性能的影响。最终，我们寻求推进高性能有机-无机混合防污涂层的开发，以满足光学仪器、可折叠显示器、海洋设施和其他各个领域的各种应用需求。