Nacre‐Inspired Metal‐Organic Framework Coatings Reinforced by Multiscale Hierarchical Cross‐linking for Integrated Antifouling and Anti‐Microbial Corrosion

Abstract

A long‐standing quest in marine materials science has been the development of tough and effective antifouling coatings for diverse surface protection. However, most commercial coatings are severely limited by poor mechanical behavior and unsustainable passive biocidal effect, leading to irreversible marine biofouling and even microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). Herein, inspired by the amorphous/crystalline feature within nacreous platelets, a mechanically robust antifouling coating composed of biopolymer‐based hydrogel and dense metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) is developed. Tailoring the cross‐linked networks across multiscale interfaces can furnish strength, dissipate strain, and improve toughness of the building blocks, resulting in a firm and scalable configuration on various substrates regardless of material category and surface topology. The resultant coating as a suitable reservoir exhibits a unique active defensive behavior of intelligent MOF degradation or drug release, enabling a groundbreaking performance for broad‐spectrum biofouling and corrosion control. Notably, neither attachment of marine organisms nor MIC of metal substrates is observed and aggravated during the prolonged testing process in complex biological environments. This study provides distinctive insights into the underlying multimechanisms of comprehensive anti‐fouling‐corrosion and pioneer a rational strategy to design next‐generation reliable MOFs‐derived coatings in marine environments.

Burning question: Are there sustainable strategies to prevent microbial metal corrosion?

“…‘Smart coatings’ encapsulate antimicrobial substances or compounds that repair metal damage and respond to environmental stimuli (Udoh et al, 2022 ; Yu et al, 2023 ). For example, a metal‐organic framework (MOF) zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) preloaded with metronidazole or hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles specifically responded to the activity of sulphate reducers, diminishing their corrosive activity (Cai et al, 2021 ; Tang et al, 2023 ).…”

Anticorrosion and Antimicrobial Tannic Acid-Functionalized Ti-Metallic Glass Ribbons for Dental Abutment

“…It is a promising result, indicating that the functionalization of Ti 60 Zr 20 Si 8 Ge 7 B 3 Sn 2 MG ribbons with tannic acid reduces the thickness of bacterial biofilm-like structures to single and random colonies; development of anticorrosion and antibacterial materials by modifying their surfaces’ properties or coating them was reported in the previous literature. 63 − 65 Despite bacterial aggregations, single colonies are very sensitive to antibiotics, and they can be easily removed from the transmucosal parts of dental implants using antiseptic mouthwash containing, for example, chlorhexidine gluconate, cetylpyridinium, and essential oils. 66 So, it can be speculated that this antiaggregation effect can be due to the presence of the tannic acid, as previously shown by Schestakow et al; 67 in fact, they reported a reduction of bacterial viability and surface-adhered bacterial cells on dentin specimens by rinsing them with a solution containing tannic acid due to the interaction of bioactive groups in tannic acid with bacterial cell membranes and proteins.…”

Microbially Influenced Corrosion of Steel in Marine Environments: A Review from Mechanisms to Prevention

“…Mixed coatings have emerged as a promising method with which to enhance the protection against microbial corrosion by combining the benefits of organic and inorganic coatings. These coatings are composed of two or more materials and have shown improved corrosion resistance and mechanical properties [ 108 ]. Of particular interest is the polymer-ceramic blend, which exhibits unique properties such as self-healing and thermal stability, and has been the subject of significant research [ 109 ].…”