Zn Wetted CeO 2 Based Composite Galvanization: An Effective Route To Combat Biofouling

• Published in: ACS applied bio materials 2019-09, Vol.2 (9), p.3774-3789
• Main Authors: Sreelekshmy, Bhuvanendran Revamma, Vijayan, Aarcha, Basheer, Rubina, Arunima, Sasidharan Radhabai, Ameen Sha, Mashood, Riyas, Ahammedkannu Hairunnisa, Bhagya, Thaju Chithrajakumary, Manu, Manikandan Nair, Shibli, Sheik Muhammadhu Aboobakar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2576-6422; 2576-6422
• DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.9b00404

The present paper reports for the first time the development and application of novel Zn wetted CeO (Zn/CeO ) composite galvanic zinc coating to combat microbial induced corrosion (MIC). Zinc metal-metal interaction causes the effective incorporation of composite into the galvanic coating and accordingly increases the active sites for antibiofouling activity. The developed coatings are explored for their anticorrosion/antibiofouling characteristics toward MIC induced by cultured seawater consortia. Enhanced antibiofouling activity of the composite galvanic coating is achieved due to the tuned content of 28 wt % Zn and 34 wt % of Ce. High charge transfer resistance as high as 4.0 × 10 Ω cm and low double layer capacitance as low as 3.99 × 10 F are achieved by tuning the structure and composition of the coating. The synergistic effect of Zn and Ce ensures the stability and corrosion resistance of the coatings in a corrosive bacterial environment. Evident decreases in the bacterial attachment and biofilm formation are illustrated using antibiofouling assay. The antibiofouling activity is attributed to the effective reduction of Ce to Ce and the shuttling characteristics of oxidation state of CeO . This impairs the cellular respiration and results in bacterial death. Thus, it can be used as an effective coating to protect the steel based equipment in corrosive marine environments to combat marine microorganisms and their interactions. The present study also paves the scope for exploration of similar effective protective systems.