AVS 58th Annual International Symposium and Exhibition
    Marine Biofouling Focus Topic Monday Sessions
       Session MB+BI+PS-MoA

Paper MB+BI+PS-MoA11
A Preliminary Study on Porous Pt-TiO2/Ti Electrodes with Electrochemically Microbubble-Induced Superhydrophobic Surfaces for Drag Reduction and Antifouling

Monday, October 31, 2011, 5:20 pm, Room 105

Session: Marine Antifouling Coatings
Presenter: Kee-Rong Wu, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Taiwan, Republic of China
Authors: K.R. Wu, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Taiwan, Republic of China
C.H. Hung, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Taiwan, Republic of China
C.W. Yeh, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Taiwan, Republic of China
J.C. Sun, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Taiwan, Republic of China
J.K. Wu, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Taiwan, Republic of China
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We investigate a novel device that features a reduction in frictional resistance and antifouling hull surface of seagoing ships which are activated electrochemically by a series of porous Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes. This device includes of a series of anodic and cathodic porous Pt-TiO /Ti electrodes insulatedly mounted on the hull surfaces of which are electrically connected to a direct current (DC) power supply. The above-mentioned porous Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes are fabricated by two steps; porous TiO2/Ti plates are firstly prepared on pure titanium plates via a micro-arc oxidation technique and Pt nanoparticles are thereafter deposited on the porous TiO2/Ti samples using magnetron sputtering. The DC power supply provides an adequate DC bias to the Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes where hydrogen and oxygen microbubbles are electrochemically nucleated and formed herein in seawater. As a result, the microbubble-induced superhydrophobic surfaces are created and the reduction in frictional resistance and antifouling hull surface are obtained. Our preliminary tests reveal that no attachment organisms are found on the Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes after 15 days of field seawater tests at an applied potential of 1.2 V and an energy consumed rate of about 4 W/m2. On the other hand, organisms, mainly Crassostrea gigas and barnacles, attached and grew on the Pt-TiO2/Ti electrode that was not applied a DC potential. That is to say that attachment of organisms can be prevented. Furthermore, the Pt-TiO2/Ti electrodes yields a gas production rate of 800 cm3/min m2 by electrolysis of seawater at an energy consumed rate of about 18 W/m2. Hence, the microbubble-induced superhydrophobic surfaces can be realized with this gas production rate for drag reduction of the ship hull.