Piezoelectric photocatalytic materials have been reported to show significant advantages in the field of marine biofouling control. Their sustainable antimicrobial mechanism arises from unique energy conversion properties. Structural characterization reveals that the Ti₃C₂T_x MXene layered surface termination morphology can induce strain-mediated polarization via hydrodynamic stimulation under dark conditions, resulting in a 50.9 % mechanochemical inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The piezoelectric photocatalytic property indicated a 3.2-fold improvement in antimicrobial efficiency of about 79.8% within visible light irradiation conditions (λ ≥ 420 nm). These results showed higher data compared to Ti₃AlC₂ (22.3%). Thus, the performance enhancement mechanism can be ascribed to factors including the synergistic effect of piezoelectricity, photocatalysis, and the efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (·O₂⁻· and ·OH). Therefore, the mechanical-photonic energy mechanism enhances antifouling activity through the redox reactions.

With the continuous development of the marine economy and the upgrading of marine infrastructure, the increasing marine engineering equipment is facing a serious problem of marine fouling. However, developing marine antifouling materials and antifouling technologies is extremely difficult due to the complexity of the marine environment and the biodiversity of the fouling. Therefore, it is the key breakthrough to develop advanced materials for solving marine fouling problems. Nanomaterials with small dimensions and controlled micro-structure have outstanding antifouling efficiency and great promise for various antifouling fields. Herein, the development of antifouling nanomaterials and technologies in recent years are reviewed for aspects of types of antifouling nanomaterials, technologies of antifouling, and potential application of antifouling. The antifouling nanomaterials are categorized as non-metal-based nanomaterials, metal-based nanomaterials, polymeric nanomaterials, composite nanomaterials, and others. Additionally, the potential applications of antifouling nanomaterials, including marine antifouling, water treatment, and medical antifouling are discussed. Finally, we proposed the perspectives of research and development trends of the antifouling nanomaterials. This overview may promote the development of new efficient antifouling nanomaterials and develop their potential commercial applications.