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Biomimetic materials with tailored surface micro‐architecture for prevention of marine biofouling
Author(s) -
Jelvestam Maria,
Edrud Susanna,
Petronis Sarunas,
Gatenholm Paul
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
surface and interface analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.52
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1096-9918
pISSN - 0142-2421
DOI - 10.1002/sia.1514
Subject(s) - biofouling , crystallization , microstructure , chemical engineering , balanus , calcium carbonate , wetting , materials science , template , nanotechnology , microcontact printing , calcite , surface modification , scanning electron microscope , chemistry , mineralogy , composite material , ecology , biochemistry , crustacean , membrane , engineering , biology
Abstract The long‐term goal of this study has been to prepare materials with a designed surface micro‐architecture that is able to prevent marine fouling by barnacles. Rows of steep microstructures with an elevation of a few micrometres separated from each other by 60 µm were manufactured using a biomimetic approach based on crystallization of calcite on surfaces of chemically patterned templates with carboxylate functionality. Templates were produced by the microcontact printing process using microfabricated silicone stamps with a surface micro‐architecture that has been shown to prevent barnacle settling. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) imaging and observations of wetting behaviour were used to examine the surfaces. The templates were used to grow surface microstructures by controlled crystallization of calcium carbonate by immersion in calcium chloride solution. Crystals grow randomly on the acidic areas of surfaces with 60/40 µm lines, whereas they grow in a regular fashion on a surface stamped with tiny (3–6 µm) 16‐mercaptohexadecanoic acid lines. This study showed that it is possible to prepare stable surface microstructures of a size up to 50 µm in a regular arrangement of lines. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.