Mechanochemical activation of siliconefor large-scale fabrication of anti-biofouling liquid-like surfaces
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Abstract
Large-scalepreparationof liquid-likecoatingswithperfecttransparencyvia solventlessand room-temperatureprocessesusinglow-costand biocompatiblematerialsis oftremendousinterestfor a broadrangeof applications.Here,wepresenta mechanochemicalactivationstrategyfor solventlessgraftingof poly(dimethylsiloxane)(PDMS)ontoglass,siliconwafers,and ceramics.Activationis achievedvia ball millingPDMSwithoutusingany solventsor additivespriorto application.Ballmillingresultsin chainscissionand generationof free radicals,allowingroom-temperaturegraftingat durations≤1 h. Thedepositionof ball-milledPDMScan be facilitatedby brushingordrop-casting,enablinglarge-scaleapplications.Theresultingsurfacesfacilitatethe slidingof dropletsat angles<20°for liquidswith surfacetensionrangingfrom 22 to 73 mN/m.An importantapplicationfor publichealthis generatinganti-biofoulingcoatingson sanitaryware.For example,PDMS-graftedsurfacespreparedon a regular-sizetoiletbowlexhibita 105-fold decreasein theattachmentof bacteriafrom urine.Thesefindingshighlightthe significantpotentialof mechanochemicalprocessesfor the practicalpreparationof liquid-likesurfaces.