Understanding, Design and Development of Zwitterionic Materials beyond Nonfouling
Abstract
Zwitterionic polymers have generated significant interest in the marine biofouling community as an alternative to traditional biocidal coatings as they possess excellent antifouling performance due to their ability to tightly bind water and construct an energy barrier to the adsorption of foulants. It is well known that zwitterionic coatings do not have fouling-release properties due to theirhigh surface energy. Through construction of amphiphilic zwitterionic polymers in which hydrophobic groups would promote the enhanced release of any foulant capable of circumventing the hydration layer. Integrated zwitterionic and hydrophobic features are highly desirable, but present a challenge in that the resulting polymer must be able to maintain a strong hydration layer in water to resist adsorption but switch to a low-energy conformation upon dehydration that promotes foulant release. Additionally, combining strongly hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups has been shown to be synthetically demanding. The overall objective of this work is the development of novel zwitterionic polymers capable of nonfouling and fouling-release properties. These amphiphilic zwitterions will allow investigation of their fundamental properties at the molecular level. In addition, we seek to explore a previously developed zwitterionic triple network (ZTN) elastomer through variance of its properties, collecting data using marine organisms (e.g., bacteria, biofilm, barnacle, algae and spores), and understanding the mechanism from these data.We intend to develop a generalized, modular synthetic route for amphiphilic zwitterionic polymers that easily lead to large-scale synthesis, thereby dramatically expanding the chemical space. Polymer coatings will be characterized thoroughly using a broad range of techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, contact angle goniometry, atomic force microscopy, and surface plasmon resonance. Coated slides will be sent to collaborators to perform sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy and marine laboratory tests. The results from this project will enable an overall understanding of amphiphilic zwitterionic polymerson nonfouling and fouling-release performance. A structure-property relationship for ZTN elastomers will also be determined. Based on the new knowledge learned, new functional materials will be designed, synthesized and tested so as to develop next-generation marine coatings beyond any existing coatings. The success of this work will have great and broad impacts on the entire marine coating field. These new coatings will meet the long-term goal of the ONR coatings program to develop environmentally benign, effective and low-cost coatings.Approved for Public Release.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312186
Entities
People
- Shaoyi Jiang
Organizations
- Cornell University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy