Silver Nanoparticles-Loaded Exfoliated Graphite and Its Anti-Bacterial Performance

• Main Authors: Shiyu Hou, Jihui Li, Xiaochuan Huang, Xiaomao Wang, Liqiang Ma, Wanci Shen, Feiyu Kang, Zheng-Hong Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-08-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: exfoliated graphite; GICs; Ag nanoparticles; Ag-EG composites; antibacterial activity; Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/7/8/852

One antibacterial material was prepared from exfoliated graphite (EG) decorated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The EG was prepared by the graphite intercalated compound process, AgNPs were prepared by chemical reduction of AgNO3 in the presence of NaBH4. The AgNPs-loaded EG (Ag-EG) composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nitrogen adsorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antibacterial effect of the Ag-EG was evaluated by using the zone of inhibition method. The loaded AgNPs were highly dispersed on EG sheets and most of them have a size less than 10 nm. The Ag loading slightly increased the surface area of EG. It is shown that the Ag-EG had antibacterial activity and anti-adhesion properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. It suggests that Ag-EG composites could be used in a variety of industrial applications that require an antibacterial effect.