Acrylate boron silane polymer/carbon nitride–titanium dioxide composite coatings with enhancing photocatalytic antifouling performance under visible light

Herein, a series of antifouling coatings (CTNCs) composed of acrylic boron silicon polymer (ABSP) and environmental-friendly photocatalysts C 3 N 4 -TiO 2 (B) heterojunctions were successfully prepared. Large-scale production and low-cost photocatalyst C 3 N 4 -TiO 2 (B) can be perfectly compounded with ABSP, realizing the possibility of engineering application. SEM and AFM analysis showed that the C 3 N 4 -TiO 2 (B) particles were firmly embedded in the coating, but serious agglomeration appeared when the content of the photocatalyst exceeds 7 wt%. The hydrophilic nanoparticles can accelerate the hydrolysis and adjust the self-polishing rates of the polymer matrix to repel bacteria and algae. When the content of C 3 N 4 -TiO 2 (B) was in the range of 5–7 wt%, the CTNCs displayed better resistance to Nitzschia closterium , Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli than the coating containing pure C 3 N 4 , and the anti-bacterial rates towards S. aureus and E. coli can reach 99.72% and 98.96%.