Silver-loaded delaminated hectorite nanoparticles for antibacterial materials

Silver nanoparticles are excellent antibacterial materials with wide application. However, it is extremely unstable associated with easy aggregation and colour changes. Although a great number of carriers have been developed for stable silver nanoparticles, it is never ending to broaden silver carrier to meet varying applications. Herein, delaminated hectorite was developed as an alternative silver carrier. The structure of silver-loaded delaminated hectorite was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray studies. Silver (8.69 wt%) was loaded onto the hectorite nanoparticles by cationic ionic change and surface coating. The silver-loaded hectorite showed fast bacterial killing ability (kill more than 94% Escherichia coli and 83% Staphylococcus aureus at 50 ppm within 1 h) by destroying bacterial cell wall.