Intrinsic Dual-Antifouling Silicone: Molecular Design and Coating Fabrication

Conventional antifouling coatings typically rely on external biocides or additives, yet their release leads to performance decay and environmental risks. Developing resins with intrinsic antifouling functionalities is therefore crucial for achieving durable protection. Herein, a dual-functional silicone was designed by covalently incorporating carboxyl groups with hydration-based fouling release capability and furan groups with intrinsic biocidal activity into the polymer side chains. After cross-linking, the coatings exhibited superior antifouling performance: protein adsorption was completely suppressed, while the adhesion of <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> was reduced from 46.3, 40.4, and 17.7%, respectively, on pristine silicone coating to 0%. Likewise, <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> and <i>Phaeodactylum tricornutum</i> attachment decreased from 98.3 and 63.6 to 0%, respectively. The enhanced performance originates from the stable hydration layer provided by carboxyl groups, which blocks initial fouling, combined with the furan moieties that confer 100% bactericidal efficiency. This work establishes a molecular design strategy for intrinsically dual-functional silicone, providing a promising pathway toward long-lasting and environmentally benign antifouling coatings.