Cellulose nanofibers-stabilized molybdenum disulfide nanosheets enhanced tough hydrogel for highly efficient marine antifouling.

Marine biofouling poses a serious safety threat and significant economic losses to offshore infrastructure. Although hydrogels have made considerable progress in marine antifouling, developing antifouling hydrogels that combine high strength and efficiency remains a challenge. In this study, a highly tough three-dimensional network composite hydrogel was designed by introducing cellulose nanofibers (CNF)-functionalized molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets (MoS2@CNF). Herein, cellulose nanofibers are employed as a green and effective exfoliation assistant to fabricate well-dispersed MoS₂@CNF nanosheets, which exhibit a sterilization rate of up to 99.9% under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. The as-synthesized hydrogel exhibits a tensile strength of 6.42 MPa and a toughness of 20.16 MJ/m3, significantly exceeding the strength of previously reported antifouling hydrogels, while also demonstrating low swelling rates and seawater stability. Furthermore, the as-prepared hydrogel demonstrated outstanding anti-protein adhesion rates (>99.9%) and excellent anti-algae adhesion rates (>99.9%), with fouling coverage of only 0.10% during a 90-day real sea trial, showcasing its strong antifouling efficacy. This work provides a new strategy for developing green marine anti-fouling hydrogels that combine great mechanical strength with durable antifouling functionality.