2019 SVC TechCon

Study of Electrically Conductive Structures Consisting of Metallic Thin Films Deposited on Water Filter Paper and their Antibacterial Activity (Room Room 104-C)

02 May 19
11:00 AM - 11:20 AM

Tracks: Coatings and Processes for Biomedical Applications

Speaker(s): Dorina Mihut, Mercer University

This research is investigating the synergistic antibacterial effect obtained by using metallic thin films deposited on water filter paper and the potential applied to the electrically conductive structures. Both silver and copper thin films deposited on water filter paper are effectively working against common types of harmful bacteria that are found in waste water. Silver and copper thin films (300 nm and 1 micron thickness) were deposited on water filter papers using direct current (DC) high vacuum magnetron sputtering technique. The antibacterial activity of electrically conductive structures was also tested by applying increased electrical potential. The morphology of the coatings and their adherence to the water filter paper was examined using the Scanning Electron Microscopy and their chemical composition was investigated using the X-ray diffraction technique. All thin films showed good adhesion to water filter fibers and ensured a high area of exposure to contaminated water. The antibacterial effect of different conductive thin films was characterized by using the standardized membrane filtering technique for water and wastewater examination. The testing media (i.e. contaminated water) containing bacterial samples were collected from local wastewater basins. Water was tested for the bacterial content before and after the exposure to conductive thin films coated filters.