We investigated the antifouling & foul release properties of a series of glassy polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMUs), including sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) (SPEEK), prepared via layer-by-layer deposition method. FTIR, NMR and dynamic light scattering was employed to confirm full sulfonation. PEMUs properties such as the growth profile, roughness, and wettability were monitored via ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements respectively. Using in-situ optical microscopy, we tracked the performance of these PEMU surface coatings against a model aquatic foulant, “<i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>”. Most surfaces terminated with the polyanion demonstrated ~100 % foulant detachment under series of flow conditions, due to both electrostatic repulsion (surface charge) as well as the strong hydration of the surfaces. These new materials represent a novel approach to non-toxic surface coatings which can withstand harsh operating conditions (e.g. high T<sub>g</sub>) and require no post-process surface modifications.

Anti-fouling surfaces from glassy polyelectrolyte multilayers

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