Waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites based on reduced graphene oxide/Ag for light-induced antibacterial properties

Graphene oxide was functionalized by dopamine to synthesize polydopamine-reduced graphene oxide (PDRGO). PDRGO was further applied as a template and reductant to reduce silver ion to form silver nanoparticles (PDRGO-Ag). Then, the PDRGO-Ag was incorporated into waterborne polyurethane (WPU) by in situ emulsification to fabricate the PDRGO-Ag embedded WPU nanocomposite films (WPU/PDRGO-Ag). Herein, the PDRGO-Ag was regarded as a photothermal agent that offers effective and controllable photothermal converters for bactericidal applications. Meanwhile, silver nanoparticles acted as an antibacterial agent that endow synergistically enhanced antibacterial properties to the PDRGO-Ag. The resulting film exhibited exceptional antibacterial performance against both E. coli and S. aureus . Moreover, the WPU/PDRGO-Ag films showed improved mechanical properties. The development of this light-induced functional WPU-based film opens a new pathway to antibacterial composite coatings. Graphical