| Title: | Aqueous-Based Fabrication of Low-VOC Nanostructured Block Copolymer Films as Potential Marine Antifouling Coatings |
| Author(s): | Kim KS; Gunari N; MacNeil D; Finlay J; Callow M; Callow J; Walker GC; |
| Address: | "Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H4, Canada. School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom" |
| Journal Title: | ACS Appl Mater Interfaces |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1944-8252 (Electronic) 1944-8244 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The ability to fabricate nanostructured films by exploiting the phenomenon of microphase separation has made block copolymers an invaluable tool for a wide array of coating applications. Standard approaches to engineering nanodomains commonly involve the application of organic solvents, either through dissolution or annealing protocols, resulting in the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this paper, an aqueous-based method of fabricating low-VOC nanostructured block copolymer films is presented. The reported procedure allows for the phase transfer of water insoluble triblock copolymer, poly(styrene-block-2 vinylpyridine-block-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO), from a water immiscible phase to an aqueous environment with the assistance of a diblock copolymeric phase transfer agent, poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO). Phase transfer into the aqueous phase results in self-assembly of PS-b-P2VP-b-PEO into core-shell-corona micelles, which are characterized by dynamic light scattering techniques. The films that result from coating the micellar solution onto Si/SiO2 surfaces exhibit nanoscale features that disrupt the ability of a model foulant, a zoospore of Ulva linza, to settle. The multilayered architecture consists of a pH-responsive P2VP-'shell' which can be stimulated to control the size of these features. The ability of these nanostructured thin films to resist protein adsorption and serve as potential marine antifouling coatings is supported through atomic force microscopy (AFM) and analysis of the settlement of Ulva linza zoospore. Field trials of the surfaces in a natural environment show the inhibition of macrofoulants for 1 month" |
| Keywords: | adhesion forces dissolution marine fouling phase transfer zoospore settlement; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEKim, Kris S Gunari, Nikhil MacNeil, Drew Finlay, John Callow, Maureen Callow, James Walker, Gilbert C eng 2016/07/09 ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016 Aug 10; 8(31):20342-51. doi: 10.1021/acsami.6b04629. Epub 2016 Jul 27" |
