Electrodeposited Cu₂O Nanopetal Architecture as a Superhydrophobic and Antibacterial Surface

Abstract

Bacterial infections being sporadic and uncontrollable demands an urgent paradigm shift in the development of novel antibacterial agents. This work involves the fabrication of Cu 2 O nanopetals over copper foil that show superlative antibacterial and superhydrophobic properties. A superhydrophobic surface has been fabricated using the electrochemical deposition (ECD) method. Here, it is aimed to establish the superior antibacterial activity as an outcome of the inherent superhydrophobic property of the as-fabricated nanostructures. The present study finds that the elevated value of the water contact angle (154 ± 0.6°) does not allow proper bacterial adhesion, and it is immune from the possibility of biofouling. Specifically, two kinds of bacterial strains have been tested and the time response of the antibacterial activity has been studied over a period of 12 h, taking DH5α Escherichia coli as a Gram-negative model and Bacillus subtilis 168 as a Gram-positive model. Higher antibacterial effects were observed for the Gram-negative model (E. coli) owing to its simplistic cell wall structure which facilitates the easy diffusion of Cu + ions into the bacterial membrane. The simplicity of the developed method of fabrication along with the superlative superhydrophobic nature and excellent antibacterial property of the material, owing to its synergistic biophysical and biochemical modes of biocidal action, establishes its viability in many applications.

Recent developments in antimicrobial and antifouling coatings to reduce or prevent contamination and cross‐contamination of food contact surfaces by bacteria

“…One of such approaches is the deposition of NPs such as those made from silica NPs, aluminum NPs, copper oxide NPs, titania NPs, or carbon nanotubes and their sequential immobilization or sintering (Encinas et al., 2020; Gong & He, 2020; Han et al., 2017; Hoo et al., 2014; Oh, Rapisand et al., 2016; Park et al, 2014; Ren et al, 2018; Ruan et al, 2020; Xue et al, 2020; Yoon et al, 2014; Zhang, Honkanen, et al, 2009; Zhao et al, 2017). Another method involves the nucleation and growth of nano/microcrystals on a surface via a deposition process such as electrodeposition, thermal deposition, electron‐beam deposition, solution deposition, and CVD (Li, Liu, et al, 2020; Subhadarshini et al, 2019). Textured polymer films have also been applied to solid substrate surfaces to create texture via electrodeposition, CVD, and self‐assembly techniques (Bruzaud et al, 2017; Crick et al, 2011; Kang et al, 2020; Zhang et al, 2016).…”

Hierarchical porous carbon obtained from directly carbonizing carex meyeriana for high-performance supercapacitors

“…However, this procedure is tedious and time-consuming and requires large amounts of harmful chemical activating agents. Other methods for synthesizing porous nanomaterials, such as electrodeposition [26] and hydrothermal method [27], have also been reported recently. But from the viewpoint of economics and environment protection, the one-step carbonization of renewable biomass materials would be a facile and promising strategy for the preparation of porous carbon as the electrode material of supercapacitors [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35].…”

Colorful superhydrophobic materials with durability and chemical stability based on kaolin

“…Besides, the application of superwetting materials would be easily limited by microbial contamination such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus 24–26 . Fungi, as a kind of mold, are inclined to survive in moist environments.…”

“…Besides, the application of superwetting materials would be easily limited by microbial contamination such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. [24][25][26] Fungi, as a kind of mold, are inclined to survive in moist environments. The hazards of fungi to materials include the degradation of materials by fungi or the growth and reproduction of fungi on the surface of materials and the formation of mold spots.…”