Silver Nanocluster/Silica Composite Coatings Obtained by Sputtering for Antibacterial Applications

Abstract

Bacterial contamination is a critical issue which concerns different fields related to people and everyday life products and goods. Authors at Politecnico di Torino developed a new silver nanocluster/silica composite coating obtained by sputtering able to confer antibacterial properties to several materials. Silver nanocluster/silica composite coatings were deposited by radio frequency co-sputtering technique on glasses, ceramics, metals and polymers. The sputtering method is extremely versatile and suitable for most of substrates, because it does not require high temperatures which could decrease the mechanical properties of coated materials (e.g. polymers). The main results will be discussed for each coated substrate, in terms of characterization techniques, morphology, composition, antibacterial effect and adhesion to the substrate.