Insights into the hybrid coatings derived from stellerite based organic/inorganic composite with synergistic antibacterial activity

The migration of free antibacterial agents in the coating will lead to the rapid decline of the antibacterial effect. Consequently, achieving sustained antibacterial efficacy has become a critical focus currently. In this study, through liquid-phase ion exchange and dry modification, Cu 2+ and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) were successively loaded onto stellerite (STI) to synthesize Cu 2+ /STI and Cu 2+ /CTAC/STI composites, then Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as the matrix to construct Cu 2+ /CTAC/STI/PVA antimicrobial coatings. The results demonstrated that the modified material retained the crystal structure of stellerite while achieving superior antibacterial properties. The incorporation of stellerite not only enhanced the stability of the antibacterial agent but also facilitated its unique delivery function. Specifically, stellerite served as an effective reservoir for antibacterial components, enabling efficient sterilization through the synergistic release of CTAC and Cu 2+ coupled with bacterial adsorption. In addition, Cu 2+ /CTAC/STI/PVA coating exhibited excellent bacterial efficacy and long-lasting antimicrobial performance, indicating the promising application prospects of stellerite-based antibacterial composites in functional coating fields.