Disinfection action of electrostatic versus steric-stabilized silver nanoparticles on E. coli under different water chemistries

- Aggregation and dissolution of silver nanoparticles depend on capping layer.
- Capping layer affects the rate of silver ion release and reactive oxygen generation.
- Generation of reactive oxygen is dominant in electrostatic stabilized nanoparticles.
- Silver ion dissolution is dominant in steric stabilized silver nanoparticles.
- Steric stabilized nanoparticles enable disinfection in a range of water chemistries.