Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
SURFACES AND INTERFACES, cilt.87, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
In this study, a dual-functional (antifouling and fouling-release) amphiphilic/zwitterionic hybrid coating was developed as an eco-friendly approach to mitigating marine biofouling on ship surfaces. These coatings were synthesized using the sol-gel method with varying ratios of sulfanilic acid, fluorinated alkylsilane (FAS), citric acid, and APTES. Among the tested formulations, FACS-0.6 exhibited the most favorable overall performance in surface characterization metrics-including hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance, surface free energy, contact angle, and chemical durability, within the scope of the evaluated tests. Protein adsorption on the coated surfaces was evaluated using the Micro BCA kit, and the FACS-0.6 coating was found to reduce protein attachment by more than 93% compared to uncoated glass. Moreover, when samples were submerged in seawater for 77 days, the FACS-0.6 surface showed an 80.7% decrease in algae accumulation. What sets this study apart is the development of a novel hybrid amphiphilic/zwitterionic sol-gel coating that exhibits combined antifouling and fouling-release behavior. Altogether, this well-rounded optimization and the dual-action mechanism are the main drivers behind the coating's strong antifouling performance. The results demonstrate that these hybrid coatings offer a safe, sustainable, and durable solution for marine antifouling and fouling-release applications.