The coexistence of superior antifouling ability and strong
substrate
adhesion is a typical trade-off for a silicone coating but is highly
desirable in numerous applications. Herein, we present a surface-enriched
antifouling coating consisting of a bis-silane-terminated polyurea
(SPU), an oligosiloxane nanocluster, and a bi-silanol-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane)
with fluorocarbon and poly(ethylene glycol) side chains as a reactive
amphiphilic polymer (RAP). The oligosiloxane nanoclusters can cross-link
the flexible SPU into a tough polymer network and interlink the polymer
network to the substrate, whereas the low-surface-energy RAP can self-enrich
on the surface during coating formation. Such a polysiloxane coating
exhibits high transparency (>85% transmittance), high tensile strength
(∼12 MPa), superior fouling resistance against proteins and
bacteria, and strong adhesion strength on various substrates including
glass, ceramic, steel, Ti, and epoxy (3–15 MPa). This research
provides a universal and tunable approach for the future design of
antifouling coatings in flexible electronics, medical devices, and
marine industries.