Water-repairable zwitterionic polymer coatings for anti-biofouling surfaces

Abstract

We developed a strategy to prepare new types of zwitterionic polymer network (ZPN) coatings that display excellent self-healing and anti-biofouling properties. Upon mechanical damage (scratching), the coatings can be easily repaired within 1 min by immersion in water, and this self-healing property can even be achieved for nanoscale-thick coatings. Both the mechanical properties and the anti-biofouling characteristics are repaired after healing.