Antibacterial activity of anodized aluminum with deposited silver

Aluminum specimens were first anodized in a sulfuric acid bath, and then silver was electrodeposited into pores of the anodized aluminum by using alternating current. The anodized aluminum with deposited silver was tested for its antibacterial performance. The results show that the antibacterial rates of the specimens with deposited silver are above 95% against the growth of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The morphology of the silver in pores of anodized aluminum was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, and the micrographs exhibited that silver was assembled in the form of nanowires with a diameter of 10 or 25 nm. The nanowires have a morphology of parallel bright stripes alternating with parallel dark stripes.