Development of silver clusters in hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel coatings

Abstract

A silver doped hybrid organic-inorganic sol-gel coating was developed through the hydrolytic condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and methyl-triethoxysilane (MTES). Silica nanoparticles were added in order to give a mechanical reinforcement and silver nitrate as the supplier of Ag+ ions, which have a potential effect as a biocide component. A high thermal sensitivity of sub-nanometric silver particles was determined by Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) carrying to formation of higher agglomerates or silver nanoparticles.