Resource-Efficient Structural Protection and Monitoring: Janus Nanofibrous Platforms for Synergistic Biomineralization and Real-Time Fiber Bragg Grating Health Monitoring

Traditional anticorrosion coatings for marine infrastructure often rely on toxic chemical inhibitors that pose significant risks to aquatic ecosystems. Herein, we report a smart green protection platform for SS400 carbon steel that synergizes microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) inhibition with in situ fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing technology. By employing Janus electrospun fibers and microsphere encapsulation, nutrient-loaded calcium alginate scaffolds were fabricated to proactively induce the metabolic biomineralization of marine Bacillus sp. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization curves revealed that the mature, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)–mediated biomineralized layer functioned as a robust physical barrier, achieving a peak inhibition efficiency (η) of 54.12% and a stabilized charge-transfer resistance (R3) of approximately 900 Ω. Integrated FBG sensors provided real-time, high-sensitivity monitoring of interfacial strain variations, which, synchronized with water quality analysis (pH, EC, and ORP), corroborated a distinct one-week biological cycle governing the anticorrosion nature of the coating achieving a 73.8% reduction in carbon footprint and a 1.85 structural lifetime extension factor. Herein, we report a smart green protection platform for SS400 carbon steel that directly addresses the global imperative for sustainable marine infrastructure by replacing toxic chemical inhibitors with a resource-efficient bio-inspired system. Results demonstrate a 73.8% reduction in production carbon footprint (1.18 kg CO2-eq/m2) compared to traditional coatings and a coating lifetime extension factor of 1.85×, validating a transformative, eco-friendly approach aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 14.