Smart photo-induced silicone/TiO₂ nanocomposites with dominant [110] exposed surfaces for self-cleaning foul-release coatings of ship hulls

Highlights: • A foul release model of sunlight-boosted silicone-enriched TiO₂ nanocomposites was fabricated. • The photo-nanofiller featured stable, well-dispersed, and uniform particle morphology. • A dramatic photo-bactericidal behavior was assessed in the laboratory assay and in the field. • The nanofiller offers superhydrophilicity, self-cleaning and antifouling coating of ship hull. The remarkable surface properties and favorable environmental effects of non-stick, silicone-based, and fouling release (FR) coatings have supported their economic and ecological applications in the marine shipping industry since organotin compounds have been banned. A novel series of solar light-boosted nanocomposites was prepared and characterized, and these materials were applied as a modern stream for ship hull FR technology in field. The design of eco-friendly, ultraviolet visible (UV–vis) smart, silicone-enriched, spherical TiO₂ nanocomposites for maritime navigation applications was demonstrated. Rutile TiO₂ photonanospheres with dominant [110] facets were synthesized and controlled through the sol–gel technique. Different nanofiller concentrations were blended in silicone nanocomposites through polymer solution casting for comparative purposes. The single-crystal TiO₂ photonanofiller enrichment of vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane matrix enhanced photocatalytic activity, a feature that is significant in designing solar-spectrum-boosted self-cleaning surfaces. These investigations revealed that the well-dispersed polymer matrix/photonanofillers influenced the surface wettability, chemical properties, and mechanical features of the prepared FR nanocomposites. The nanocomposites exhibited the best self-cleaning performance at 0.5% nanofillers after UV–vis irradiation. Biological assessments involving a one-month laboratory assay of bacterial and yeast species and a 12-month natural seawater field trial revealed that the modeled nanocomposites exerted a marked photobactericidal effect.