Carboxyl-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes-filled PDMS nanocomposites for anti-biofouling applications

In the current study, six carboxyl-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (cMWNTs)-filled PDMS nanocomposites (CPs) were successfully prepared, respectively. The antifouling (AF) properties of the CPs surfaces were evaluated via the long-term field immersion assays. The effects of the CPs surfaces on the attachment and colonization of the pioneer biofilm communities were investigated using the single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) technique via the comparison of the diversity indices. Different CPs surfaces (i.e. the P1–P6 surfaces) have exhibited differential and excellent AF properties in the sea trial test as compared to that of the unfilled PDMS (P0) surface, indicating that the six cMWNT nanoparticles (i.e. the C1–C6 fillers) have demonstrated better AF properties, when used as reinforcing fillers in the PDMS matrix. The only reinforcing cMWNT filler (i.e. the C3 filler, 50 nm diameter, 10–20 μm length) has been identified and determined in the field. In addition, the partially aggregated cMWNT filler in the PDMS matrix was found to contribute to the improved AF properties of the CPs. The CPs surfaces can significantly reduce the adherent pioneer eukaryotic community diversity and richness, which may have dramatically modulating effect on the attachment and colonization of pioneer eukaryotic microbes. In contrast, most CPs (i.e. the P1–P5 surfaces) can only exert slight perturbation effect on the pioneer prokaryotic communities. Only the P6 surface can exert significant perturbation effect on the adherent pioneer prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities at the same time. The functionalized CPs surfaces may have the potential to be used for future maritime applications.