Effect of Reducing Agent on Characteristics and Antibacterial Activity of Copper-Containing Particles in Textile Materials.

Textile materials modified with copper-containing particles have antibacterial and antiviral properties that have prospects for use in healthcare. In the study, textile materials were saturated with copper-containing particles in their entire material volume by the absorption/diffusion method. The antibacterial properties of modified textile materials were confirmed by their inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium that spreads predominantly through the respiratory tract. For the modification, ordinary textile materials of various origins and fiber structures were used. Technological conditions and compositions of modifying solutions were established, as well as the most suitable textile materials for modification. To assess the morphological and physical characteristics of copper-containing particles and the textile materials themselves, X-ray diffraction, a scanning electron microscope, and an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum were used. In modified textile samples, XRD data showed the presence of crystalline phases of copper (Cu) and copper (I) oxide (Cu2O). On the grounds of the SEM/EDS analysis, the saturation of textile materials with copper-containing particles depends on the structure of the textile materials and the origins of the fibers included in their composition, as well as the modification conditions and the copper precursor.

Antibacterial Activity of Copper Particles Embedded in Knitted Fabrics.

The composition and antibacterial properties of copper particles synthesized by a very simple reduction method were studied. For the preparation of particles in knitted fabrics, copper(II) sulfate was used as a precursor and ascorbic acid as a reducing natural agent. X-ray diffraction analysis showed the crystalline nature of the obtained particles. The round or oval particles and their agglomerates in knitted fabrics consisted of copper with traces of copper(I) oxide-cuprite. The element maps and energy dispersive X-ray spectra showed a high content of copper in the samples. The samples of wool and cotton knitted fabrics with copper particles had excellent antibacterial activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial strains. The maximum zones of inhibition were 19.3 mm for S. aureus and 18.3 mm for E. coli using wool knitted fabric and 14.7 mm and 15.3 mm using cotton knitted fabric, respectively. The obtained results showed that the modified wool and cotton fabrics are suitable for use as inserts in reusable masks due to their noticeable and long-term activity against pathogenic bacteria.

Structural and Optical Characterizations of Cadmium Chalcogenide Layers on Polyamide Formed Using Monotelluropentathionic Acid.

Mixed cadmium tellurides-cadmium sulfide thin layers were formed on the polyamide PA 6. Monotelluropentathionic acid (H2TeS4O6) was used as a precursor of tellurium and sulfur. A low-temperature, nontoxic, and cost-effective SILAR method was applied. Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and sulfide (CdS) layers were formed through the consecutive reactions of sorbed/diffused chalcogens species from telluropentathionate anion (TeS4O62-) with functional groups of polyamide and alkaline cadmium sulfate. The pseudo-second-order rate and Elovich kinetic models were the best fit to quantify an uptake of chalcogens and cadmium on PA 6. The effects of chalcogens and Cd on the structure and optical properties of PA 6 were characterized using UV-Vis and IR spectra. The clear changes of these properties depended on the concentration and exposure time in the precursor solutions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy were applied in order to evaluate the effect of the chalcogen species on the changes in structure of polyamide 6 films, depending on the exposure time in the solution of the chalcogens precursor and its concentration. The optical bandgap energy of the formed layers was found to be in the order of 1.52-2.36 eV. Studies by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy reveal that the diameter of the average grain is approximately 30 nm. The grains are conical in shape and unevenly distributed all over the surface of the substrate.

Effect of In-Incorporation and Annealing on CuxSe Thin Films.

A study of indium-incorporated copper selenide thin-film deposition on a glass substrate using the successive ionic adsorption and reaction method (SILAR) and the resulting properties is presented. The films were formed using these steps: selenization in the solution of diseleniumtetrathionate acid, treatment with copper(II/I) ions, incorporation of indium(III), and annealing in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. The elemental and phasal composition, as well as the morphological and optical properties of obtained films were determined. X-ray diffraction data showed a mixture of various compounds: Se, Cu0.87Se, In2Se3, and CuInSe2. The obtained films had a dendritic structure, agglomerated and not well-defined grains, and a film thickness of ~90 µm. The band gap values of copper selenide were 1.28-1.30 eV and increased after indium-incorporation and annealing. The optical properties of the formed films correspond to the optical properties of copper selenide and indium selenide semiconductors.