SBIR Phase I: Antifouling Composites for Renewable Ocean Energy Applications

这一小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在开发一种增强复合材料，将纳米级银的抗菌效果与增强复合材料的强度和重量相结合，以满足海洋环境的抗微生物性能规格。在这个项目中，将使用碳纳米管（CNT）注入玻璃纤维复合材料。 CNT并入的玻璃纤维复合材料不仅为重量和强度要求提供了优异的解决方案，而且由于纳米银颗粒与CNT系统之间的强货车相互作用，还为纳米银集成提供了理想的支撑。此外，CNT并入的复合材料的导电性质与容易获得的电流源相结合，提供了利用电化学银离子释放来产生可调的电致变色效应的完美机会。该项目预计将验证有效的可再生能力可以固有地集成到潮汐涡轮机等产品中使用的复合材料中，从而延长其寿命并降低运营成本。 该项目的更广泛/商业影响将是为海洋可再生能源和海洋应用提供防污增强复合材料的潜力。海洋可再生能源正在成为替代能源解决方案的一个关键要素。其中一个普遍的挑战是生产系统的关键部件，这些部件坚固，重量轻，耐用，但也耐用。具有成本效益的可再生能源解决方案的可用性对于广泛采用海洋可再生能源至关重要。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a reinforced composite material that combines the antimicrobial effectiveness of nanoscale silver with the strength and weight of reinforced composites to meet the antifouling performance specifications of the marine environment. In this project, Carbon Nanotube (CNT)-infused glass fiber composites will be used. CNT-infused glass fiber composites not only provide an excellent solution to the weight and strength requirements, but also provide an ideal support for nanoscale silver integration due to the strong van der Waals interaction between the nanosilver particles and CNT systems. Additionally, the conductive nature of the CNT-infused composites coupled with the readily available source of electric current offer a perfect opportunity to utilize electrochemical silver ion release to create a tunable antifouling effect. This project is expected to verify that effective antifouling capabilities can be inherently integrated into the composites used in products such as tidal turbines, thereby extending their life and lowering operating costs. The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the potential to provide an anti-fouling reinforced composite material for ocean renewable energy and marine applications. Ocean renewable energy is emerging as a key element of the alternative energy solution. One of the general challenges is to produce key components of the system which are strong, lightweight and durable, but also antifouling. The availability of cost-effective antifouling solution is essential for the wide adoption of ocean renewable energy.