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Effects of Polymer To Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Ratio on Antifouling
Properties of Epoxy/PEDOT:PSS/Cerium Doped Zinc Oxide Coating
Noor Sharina Aini Binti Mohd Nasir
Supervisor: Dr. Wan Rafizah binti Wan Abdullah
Bachelor of Technology (Environment)
School of Ocean Engineering
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Biofouling is a major problem in naval industry as it causes costly bio-corrosion on
equipment or structures. Prevention of biofouling is now possible through application
of epoxy based coating containing ZnO as antifouling agent. This study focused on
investigation of the antifouling properties of epoxy/PEDOT:PSS/Ce doped ZnO coating.
The ZnO nanoparticles doped with 0.2 and 1.0 mol% Ce were prepared through the
citrate gel method and solid state sintering. Epoxy coating formulations containing
different PEDOT:PSS to nanoparticles ratio (1:1, 2:1, 3:1) were prepared using dropcasting
method. The produced coatings were characterized using SEM, FTIR, antibacteria
susceptibility test against Gram-negative (E.coli) and Gram-positive
(S.aureus) bacteria models and methylene blue photodegradation assay under UV
light irradiation. The findings showed that coating film containing 3:1 ratio of
PEDOT:PSS to Ce doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibited the strongest antimicrobial
against selected bacteria and the highest photocatalytic efficiency. This coating
formulation is therefore has proven potential as antifouling coating.
58 | U M T U N D E R G R A D U A T E R E S E A R C H D A Y 2019