Engineering Graphene Oxide based Nanocomposite Paints against Marine Biofouling

海洋生物污损，即各种海洋微生物、植物、藻类和贝类在暴露于海水的船舶船体上的积累和定殖，对海洋运输产生重大问题1。例如，基于生物污垢的摩擦效应导致速度降低，并增加高达40%的燃料消耗来补偿;因此，国际海事组织（2009年）估计，如果不开发新的高效技术，到2020年，温室气体排放（CO2和SO2）预计将增加38-72%。目前，已经开发了许多防腐蚀技术和涂料来解决这个问题;但是，如果环境友好，如有机硅弹性体，它们的效果较差，不适合静止或缓慢移动的船只。目前有效的防污剂通过释放重金属（铜、锡或锌）而具有不利的且通常是非特异性的毒性，在某些情况下，重金属如三丁基锡会破坏非目标生物的内分泌系统。因此，非常需要开发有效且环境友好的方法来解决海洋生物污损。

Marine biofouling, the accumulation and colonization of various marine microorganisms, plants, algae, and shellfish on vessels’ hull exposed to seawater, generates significant problems for marine shipping1. For example, biofouling based frictional effects results in decreased speeds and up to 40% increased fuel consumption to compensate; as a result, the International Maritime Organization (2009) estimates that greenhouse emissions (CO2 and SO2) would be expected to increase 38-72% by 2020 if no new efficient technology is developed. Currently, many antifouling technologies and paints have been developed to address the issue; however, if environmentally benign such as silicone elastomers, they are less effective and unsuitable for stationary or slowing moving vessels. Current effective anti-fouling agents are associated with adverse and often non-specific toxicity through their release of heavy metals (copper, tin or zinc) which in some cases such a tributyltin, disrupted endocrine systems of non-target organisms. Consequently, it is highly desirable to develop efficient and environmental friendly approaches to address marine biofouling.