Room temperature cured silver nanoparticle embedded hybrid nanocomposite coatings: processing and property evaluation

Abstract

Room temperature (RT) curable inorganic–organic hybrid hydrophobic coatings embedded with in situ formed silver nano particles (Ag NPs) were developed on glass substrates by a sol–gel based wet chemical method using a spray/dip coating technique. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GLYMO), titanium(IV)isopropoxide (TTIP), polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) trimethylsiloxy terminated, diamine based curing agent and silver nitrate (AgNO₃) were used as precursors to prepare a hybrid nanocomposite polymeric sol prior to coating. The coated surface displays a notable brownish yellow color indicating the formation of Ag NPs under ambient conditions. In-depth characterizations of the Ag NPs incorporated hybrid coated surface were reported using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), water contact angle (WCA) measurements, abrasion testing, pencil hardness testing and adhesion testing. The coating with embedded Ag NPs inside the matrix was mechanically robust, easy to produce and stable in the long term with little change in color even after a period of 210 days. RT cured hybrid coatings surrounded by Ag NPs on the surface have potential applications in the medical field with antibacterial properties and could also be explored for applications in the food and beverage industry as well as other sectors of society.