By adjusting the fluorine content and the molar ratio of 4,4'-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (HMDI) to isophthalaldehyde (IPAL), a novel fluorinated polysiloxane/polyurea (FPUI) with an optimized dual-healing network of hydrogen and imine bonds is synthesized. Using FPUI as a low-surface-energy matrix and incorporating nano-SiO₂ via spraying, a biomimetic fluorinated polysiloxane/polyurea-silica (FPUS) anti-icing coating is developed, achieving durable anti-icing and de-icing performance. FPUS demonstrates complete self-healing within 15 min at room temperature, with tensile strength, elongation at break, and shear strength of 1.43 MPa, 159.32%, and 1.14 MPa, respectively. Water droplets on FPUS-coated surfaces (glass, carbon steel, plastic, and rubber) exhibit significantly longer freezing times compared to uncoated substrates. For instance, on uncoated glass, water freezes in 27 s, whereas on FPUS-coated glass, freezing is delayed to 619 s. Additionally, ice adhesion strength on uncoated glass is 364.16 kPa but was drastically reduced to 23.25 kPa on FPUS-coated glass. Even after 10 freeze-thaw cycles, the adhesion strength remained stable, increasing only slightly to 26.65 kPa. Beyond its anti-icing capabilities, FPUS also exhibited self-cleaning, antibacterial, and anti-corrosion properties. These features make it a promising candidate for protecting outdoor infrastructure and engineering equipment, such as wind turbine blades, photovoltaic panels, power transmission lines, aircraft, and offshore oil platforms.

Marine biological fouling is a widespread phenomenon encountered by various oceanic ships and naval vessels, resulting in enormous economic losses. Herein, novel 4,5-dichloro-2-octyl-isothiazolone@sodium alginate/chitosan microcapsules (DCOIT@ALG/CS) were prepared through composite gel method using DCOIT as core materials, ALG and CS as shells, and CaCl ₂ as the cross-linking agent. The formed microcapsules (MCs) with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were then filled in UV-curable polysiloxane (UV-PDMS), followed by UV irradiation to yield UV-PDMS/microcapsules/AgNPs (UV-PDMS/MCs/Ag) composite coatings. The constructed micro–nano dual-scale surface using the MCs and AgNPs improved the antifouling and antibacterial properties of UV-PDMS/MCs/Ag coatings. The as-obtained UV-PDMS/MCs/Ag coatings exhibited a static contact angle of about 160°, shear strength of 2.24 MPa, tensile strength of 3.32 MPa and elongation at break of 212%. The synergistic bacteriostatic effects of DCOIT and AgNPs in UV-PDMS/MCs/Ag coatings resulted in a bactericidal rate of 200 μg ml ⁻¹ towards Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with saturation at 100% within 10 min. In sum, the proposed composite coatings look promising for future marine transportation, pipeline networks and undersea facilities.

A novel synthesis strategy of butadiene/isoprene–styrene di-block copolymer with high cis-1,4 content was explored based on a neodymium phosphate catalyst, by adjusting the electron cloud density of the catalytic active center via triphenyl phosphine.