Dynamic air retention in ZnO-integrated biomimetic microcilia arrays for marine antifouling applications

• Inspired by lotus leaves and Salvinia molesta , the ZnO-integrated microcilia array with the bubble trapping function was prepared. • The long-lasting gaseous plastron forms an eco-friendly physical barrier that prevents the formation of biofouling. • The ZnO-integrated microcilia array-based flexible superhydrophobic material exhibits long-term durability and maintains outstanding bubble adsorption capacity even after multiple cycles. Marine biofouling has persisted as a challenge for humanity since the inception of maritime activities and remains one of the critical obstacles in contemporary ocean exploitation. For membrane materials exposed to aquatic environments, it is essential to control biofouling while avoiding adverse impacts on the surrounding ecosystem. Inspired by the structure of lotus leaves and the visible reflection due to trapped air layer of Salvinia , we fabricated ZnO nanopillars on the surface of flexible microcilia arrays to achieve a superhydrophobic surface with micro-nano hierarchical structure. We employed ultra-depth three-dimensional microscope observation and simulated marine environment experiments to systematically evaluate the bubble adsorption effect and antifouling performance of the ZnO-integrated biomimetic microcilia arrays. The surface morphology of the materials was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while the physicochemical properties of the material surfaces were analyzed via energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and water contact angle measurements. The ZnO-integrated microcilia array can generate visible reflection due to trapped air layer underwater, forming a gaseous plastron as physical antifouling barrier, which can retain exceptional bubble adsorption capacity even after multiple cycles. The gaseous plastron provides environmentally friendly antifouling strategies and can effectively resist the attachment of bacteria and algae under both static and simulated dynamic marine conditions.