Nature-inspired trapped air cushion surfaces for environmentally sustainable antibiofouling

Feathers of seabirds and waterfowl (for example the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos)) consist hierarchical fibrillar structures encapsulated with hydrophobic preen oil. These characteristics afford waterproofing through entrapment air pockets, enabling swimming diving for such bird species. This liquid repellency mechanism feathers is mimicked by surface hydrophobisation fibrous nonwoven polypropylene textiles to create large volumes trapped at solid–liquid interface (plastron). Higher static water contact angle values correlate a greater resistance towards ingress (akin behaviour feathers). In order extend gas layer lifetimes, transportation from submerged bubble bell spider (Argyroneta aquatica) respiration via short duration (< 1 s) solar-powered bursts once every 2 h. combination ornithological arachnological inspired approaches yields stable layers which are shown inhibit biofouling in real-world outdoor wet environments.