Strongly-coupled silver chloride–tungsten oxide hybrid nanocomposite with excellent antibacterial effect

• A novel AgCl–W18O49 hybrid nanocomposite has been synthesized.
• The novel nanocomposite possessed unique mutual encapsulating structure.
• The novel nanocomposite exhibited excellent antibacterial activity.

A novel hybrid nanocomposite composed of AgCl nanoparticles and W18O49 nanorods was fabricated through a facile, clean, efficient deposition route. The AgCl–W18O49 nanocomposite has been found to exhibit excellent antibacterial activity, which may arise from the high-density loading of the AgCl nanoparticles on the W18O49 nanorods and the strongly-coupled interaction between the two components. Under light irradiation, partially photoreduction of the AgCl nanoparticles could convert the AgCl–W18O49 nanocomposite to the plasmonic Ag–AgCl–W18O49 nanophotocatalyst with enhanced antibacterial activity. The AgCl–W18O49 nanocomposite is promising candidate for potential application in the field of marine antifouling coatings.

The excellent antibacterial activity of the AgCl–W18O49 NC arises from the high-density loading of AgCl NPs on the W18O49 NRs and the strongly-coupled interaction between the two components. Under light irradiation, partially photoreduction of the AgCl NPs could convert the AgCl–W18O49 NC to the plasmonic Ag–AgCl–W18O49 nanophotocatalyst with enhanced antibacterial activity.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide