Patent ID: 8671862

Claim:
A device with microbubble-induced superhydrophobic surfaces for drag reduction and biofouling prevention comprising an anodic microporous plate, a cathodic microporous plate, and a DC power supply, with the anodic microporous plate and the cathodic microporous plate adapted to be mounted to a hull surface of a ship, with the DC power supply including a positive pole electrically connected to the anodic microporous plate and a negative pole electrically connected to the cathodic microporous plate, with seawater being electrolyzed to generate hydrogen microbubbles adjacent to a surface of the cathodic microporous plate and to generate oxygen microbubbles adjacent to a surface of the anodic microporous plate, forming superhydrophobic surfaces on the surfaces of the anodic microporous plate and the cathodic microporous plate, with electric current flowing through the anodic microporous plate and the cathodic microporous plate to prevent biofouling.