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Nanoarchitectonics of Silver/Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) Films: Structure, Optical Characteristics, Antibacterial Activity, and Wettability

Research Authors
Asmaa N. Mohammed Ali, Nadia A. Ali, Seenaa I. Hussein, A. Hakamy, Bahaaudin Rafah, Ayman S. Alof, Alaa M. Abd‑Elnaiem
Research Abstract

Functionalizing organic–inorganic materials for use in packaging technologies, such as polymers wrapped in thin metal, has proven to be one of the more successful strategies. In this study, the direct current (DC) sputtering technique under a vacuum of 3× 10−5 Torr was used to deposit silver (Ag) flms of thicknesses of 100 and 300 nm on poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer. The structural, optical, antibacterial activity, and wettability properties of Ag/PMMA were carried out using X-ray difraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), feld emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV spectrophotometer, and contact angle. The cubic crystal structure phase of Ag was confrmed by the XRD. The Ag coating layer has consistent nanomorphology, according to AFM, and the PMMA substrate surface was well coated with Ag nanoparticles. As the Ag flm thickness rose, the optical band gap values of Ag/PMMA slightly increased. In addition, it has been found that these optical characteristics such as extension coefcient, optical density, and optical surface resistance essentially depend on the thickness of the Ag layers. Both samples of pure PMMA and Ag/PMMA polymers show no activity against E. coli. In the meantime, S. aureus activity is detected in the Ag/PMMA samples, and the antibacterial activity is slightly infuenced by the Ag thickness. The contact angle rose as the Ag flm thickness grew over the PMMA, resulting in a decrease in the wettability of the liquid which is required for food packaging technology.

Research Date
Research Department
Research Journal
Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials
Research Member
Research Publisher
Springer
Research Vol
33(3)
Research Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10904-022-02525-4
Research Year
2023
Research Pages
694-706