Slippery anti-biofouling coatings on Mg alloy with lubricant self-replenishing performance

The limited durability and difficulty in repairing damaged lubrication layers are significant challenges hindering the practical applications of slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) in fields such as marine antifouling. Here, we present an antifouling SLIPS coating with lubricant self-replenishing properties by grafting silica aerogel onto the layered double hydroxide (LDH) structure. The LDH structure is synthesized on the surface of Mg alloy via a hydrothermal reaction. Following the curing of polymethylsiloxane, silica aerogel is grafted onto the surface, and lubricating oil is infused to obtain the SLIPS coating. The LDH structure provides interconnected microcavities for lubricating oil storage, enabling self-replenishing properties when the lubricating layer is damaged, thereby enhancing the coating's durability. The SLIPS coating exhibits high performance in resisting adhesion of Chlorella vulgaris, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Pseudoaltteromonas nigrifaciens, achieving an over 80 % reduction in fouling organism coverage compared to bare Mg. This study presents a promising approach for the application of SLIPS in antifouling.