Novel Synthesis of Ag NPs on Polymer Fabrics by a Green Method for Antibacterial Performance

Abstract

In the present work, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were deposited on PET fabrics by a green method. The fabric samples were firstly treated by ambient air cold plasma. Then, the Ag2O nanoparticles were deposited on the surface of the samples assisted by ultrasonic spraying technology. Finally, the Ag2O nanoparticles were in-situ reduced into Ag NPs by H2 DBD cold plasma. Results of SEM, EDS, high-resolution XPS and TEM analyses confirmed that Ag2O were completely reduced into Ag NPs. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and tensile test were used to evaluate the thermodynamic properties and mechanical properties of the Ag NPs deposited PET fabrics. The antibacterial experiments indicted that the as-prepared Ag NPs-deposited fabrics exhibited considerable antibacterial activity against both S. aureus and E. coli. Therefore, these materials have promising applications in the medicinal filed as well as in human daily life to relieve the many problems caused by bacteria.