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Abstract
SiOx-like coatings were deposited on glass slides from a hexamethylsiloxane precursor by plasma-assisted CVD (PACVD). Surface energies (23.1–45.7 mJ m−1) were correlated with the degree of surface oxidation and hydrocarbon contents. Tapping mode AFM revealed a range of surface topologies with Ra values 1.55–3.16 nm and RMS roughness 1.96–4.11 nm. Settlement of spores of the green alga Ulva was significantly less, and detachment under shear significantly more on the lowest surface energy coatings. Removal of young plants (sporelings) of Ulva under shear was positively correlated with reducing the surface energy of the coatings. The most hydrophobic coatings also showed good performance against a freshwater bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens, significantly reducing initial attachment and biofilm formation, and reducing the adhesion strength of attached bacterial cells under shear. Taken together the results indicate potential for further investigation of these coatings for applications such as heat exchangers and optical instruments.
Acknowledgements
These studies were supported by the AMBIO project (NMP-CT-2005-011827), funded by the European Commission's 6th Framework Programme. Views expressed in this publication reflect only the views of the authors and the Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of information contained therein. The authors also acknowledge Matjaž Godec, PhD and Djordje Mandrino, PhD, who provided FE SEM imaging and XPS measurements. Additional support was obtained from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain (grant no – MAT2005-25511-E); Research Program P2-132, Surface Physics and Chemistry of Materials financed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Republic of Slovenia and ERDF support of CoE Advance Metallic Materials.