Towards the scale-up of the formation of nanoparticles on α-Ag₂WO₄ with bactericidal properties by femtosecond laser irradiation

Abstract: In recent years, complex nanocomposites formed by Ag nanoparticles coupled to an α-Ag₂WO₄ semiconductor network have emerged as promising bactericides, where the semiconductor attracts bacterial agents and Ag nanoparticles neutralize them. However, the production rate of such materials has been limited to transmission electron microscope processing, making it difficult to cross the barrier from basic research to real applications. The interaction between pulsed laser radiation and α-Ag₂WO₄ has revealed a new processing alternative to scale up the production of the nanocomposite resulting in a 32-fold improvement of bactericidal performance, and at the same time obtaining a new class of spherical Ag_xW_yO_z nanoparticles.

Authors: Marcelo Assis,  Eloisa Cordoncillo,  Rafael Torres-Mendieta,  Héctor Beltrán-Mir,  Gladys Mínguez-Vega,  Regiane Oliveira,  Edson R. Leite,  Camila C. Foggi,  Carlos E. Vergani,  Elson Longo &  Juan Andrés.

Scientific Reports

volume 8, Article number: 1884 (2018)

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19270-9

PDF: towards the scale-up