Antibacterial effect, structural characterization, and some applications of silver chiral nano-flower sculptured thin films

Silver chiral nano-flowers with 3-, 4-, and 5-fold symmetry were produced using oblique angle deposition method in conjunction with the rotation of sample holder with different speeds at different sectors of each revolution. X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were employed to obtain the nanostructure and morphology of the films. Their antibacterial, electrical, and hydrophobic properties were investigated. Antibacterial properties were investigated against a range of microorganisms including Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and Candida albicans PTCC 5027. Electrical conductivity of these films relative to that of bulk sample is reduced by a factor of about 103 due to porosity, surface roughness, and anisotropic structure of these films. Hydrophobicity results show dependence on the symmetry of these chiral nano-flowers.