Photocatalytic Performances and Antifouling Efficacies of Alternative Marine Coatings Derived from Polymer/Metal Oxides (WO3@TiO2)-Based Composites

This work concerns development of alternative antifouling paints for marine applications using composite metal oxides derived from TiO2 and WO3. Composite with a variety tungsten content were prepared via sol–gel process titanium isopropoxide sodium tungstate dihydrate as the precursors. The crystalline phase, bandgap energy, morphology, surface structure, electronic states synthesized products then characterized confirmed by XPS, XRD, UV/Vis spectroscopy, SEM-EDX, TEM techniques. Photocatalytic performance polymer film loaded containing 10% mole WO3 (10%WO3@TiO2) was both under UV irradiation in dark. results are discussed light oxygen vacancies presence heterojunctions between domains composites, which eventually lead to suppression charges recombination. Finally, antimicrobial efficacy oxide particles evaluated static immersion conditions Zobell Marine agar. After 30 days, percentage fouling coverage (16.35%), colonies number (CFU value 12 × 103), reduction (92.94%), obtained, significantly outperformed those control (the bare substrate).