Journal of Bionic Engineering (2023) 20:2826–2839https://doi.org/10.1007/s42235-023-00420-3

Corrosion Resistance and Antifouling Bioinspired Coating with Doped Polyaniline and TO@CA Self-Healing Nanocapsules 

Hongli Tian1  · Wenbo Du2  · Yuchao Zhan1  · Limei Tian1  · Jie Zhao1  · Jiyu Sun1

Jiyu Sun sjy@jlu.edu.cn 

1 Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering (Ministry of Education, China), Jilin University, Changchun 130022, China 

2 National Key Laboratory for Remanufacturing, Army Academy of Armored Forces, Beijing 100000, China

Abstract: In this study, an integrative bioinspired coating system for antifouling and corrosion resistance was investigated, in which self-healing nanocapsules (tung oil calcium alginate, TO@CA), doped polyaniline and nano-titanium dioxide nanocomposites (SPAn–TiO2) and a biostructure metal surface were combined. The antifouling property of the bioinspired coating resulted from the synergistic antifouling efect of nano-TiO2 and acid-doped polyaniline in SPAn–TiO2. The protonated nitrogen with a positive charge in SPAn–TiO2 and the intrinsic bactericidal property of nano-TiO2 could damage negatively charged single-celled chlorella, endowing the composite coating with good antifouling performance (less algae attached on the surfaces after a 90-day antifouling test and a conductivity test). The composite bioinspired coating had excellent corrosion resistance, which was due to the good synergistic anticorrosion barrier efect of SPAn–TiO2 with TO@CA nanocapsules and the repairing ability of microcracks of TO@CA nanocapsules during the corrosion process. The bioinspired coating with 2 wt% SPAn–TiO2 and 2 wt% TO@CA nanocapsules exhibited a better adhesion, corrosion resistance and antifouling performance than the other coatings did. 

Keywords: Corrosion resistance · Antifouling · Self-healing · Multifunctional bioinspired coating · Doped polyaniline