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In this study, a facile and cost-effective approach has been developed for fabricating antibacterial and antistatic waterborne polyurethane (WPU)-based coatings by using Polyaniline-Copper@Zinc oxide (P-Cu@ZnO) ternary nanohybrid as a multifunctional additive. The solid-state reaction of copper acetate and zinc acetate salts led to the synthesis of copper clusters on the ZnO nanoparticles (Cu@ZnO). The obtained Cu@ZnO nanoparticles were intercalated with polyaniline (PANI) chains to prepare the P-Cu@ZnO nanohybrid. FTIR, XRD, UV–Vis, and FESEM analyses were used to characterize the structural, crystallographic, and morphological properties of the synthesized nanohybrid. Adding P-Cu@ZnO nanohybrid to the WPU matrix not only improved adhesion strength of the coatings but also enhanced their scratch resistance compared to the pristine WPU coating. Moreover, incorporation of the obtained nanohybrid into the WPU coatings caused electrical surface resistance of the obtained coatings to reach 1.2 × 10+8 Ω/sq, so, these coatings gained the optimum electrical surface resistance to be counted as an antistatic coating. Also, the results of the colony counting test showed that the modified coatings could reduce the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria growth by about 86% and 74%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Copper/ reduced single layer graphene oxide (Cu/ rSLGO) was developed by a simultaneous in-situ reduction of Cu+2 ions and SLGO nanosheets. • The SP2 hybridization of rSLGO nanosheets and the conductive connections between them by Cu nanoparticles lead to good antistatic properties. Abstract Development of a surface with simultaneous antibacterial and antistatic properties is necessary for some special environments like operating rooms and high-tech industries. Multifunctional copper/ reduced single layer graphene oxide (Cu/ rSLGO) nanohybrid has been developed to induce these simultaneous properties in waterborne polyurethane coatings (WPU). The Cu/ rSLGO nanohybrid was synthesized through the in-situ reduction of Cu+2 ions and single layer graphene oxide nanosheets without using any secondary reducing reagent. FESEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, EDX, UV–vis, and TGA analyses were used to characterize morphological, structural, crystallographic, and thermal properties of the prepared nanohybrid, and the modified WPU coatings were studied by SEM, AFM, contact angle, TGA, DLS, and mechanical properties analyses. The results of the colony counting method exhibited that the Cu/ rSLGO nanohybrid has a strong antibacterial activity with 92% and 80.66% of the loss of viability for S. aureus and E. coli bacteria, respectively. Moreover, adding 3%wt Cu/ rSLGO nanohybrid and the creation of sufficient conductive pathways throughout the WPU matrix lead to the electrical surface resistance of the modified coating reaches 4.8 × 10+9 Ω/sq which falls into the electrical surface resistance range of commercial antistatic coatings. Furthermore, utilizing the Cu/ rSLGO in the WPU coating not only provided thermal resistance but also, enhanced its mechanical properties compared with the coating made of pristine waterborne polyurethane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Polyaniline/cationic reduced graphene oxide (P-RGO+) nanohybrids were developed by the in-situ interfacial polymerization method. • The good exfoliation of RGO+ nanosheets and the passive layer of PANI nanofibers can prevent the diffusion of corrosive agents to the metal surface. • The SP2 hybridization of RGO+ nanosheets and the conductive connections between them by PANI nanofibers lead to a good antistatic property. • Antibacterial activity of the nanohybrid is justified by the positive charge of PANI and the physical damages occurred by RGO+ nanosheets. Development of a coating with simultaneous anticorrosion, antistatic, and antibacterial properties is an important issue which has gained attention from both academic and industrial societies. Multifunctional Polyaniline /cationic reduced graphene oxide (P-RGO+) nanohybrid has been synthesized to induce these properties in waterborne polyurethane (WPU) coatings. The cationic reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (RGO+) were obtained through the in-situ reduction and functionalization with Dimethylformamide (DMF). The cationic reduced graphene oxide nanosheets were intercalated with Polyaniline nanofibers (PANI) to prepare a binary nanohybrid (P-RGO+). This nanohybrid was characterized through the FTIR, XRD, FESEM, and zeta potential techniques and its effect on anticorrosion, antistatic, antibacterial, and mechanical properties of the waterborne polyurethane coatings was studied. The results of Tafel and EIS plots exhibited that the modified coatings have an improved performance in term of protecting steel substrates against corrosion. Moreover, in the presence of the nanohybrid, the electrical surface resistance of the obtained coating reduced to reach 9.8 × 10+6 Ω/sq so that it can be counted as an antistatic coating. Moreover, utilizing P-RGO+ nanohybrid in the WPU dispersion not only improved antibacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria but also caused the enhanced mechanical properties of the modified coating compared with the pristine coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]