Regenerated cellulose (RC) films coated with copper (Cu) nanoparticles were prepared from cellulose-cuprammonium solution through coagulation in aq. NaOH and subsequent reduction in aq. NaBH
4. Structure and morphology of the nanocomposite films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results established the migration of Cu
2+ from the inner to the surface of the RC films during the coagulation of cellulose-cuprammonium solution and the reduction from Cu
2+ to Cu
0. Cu nanoparticles were found to be firmly embedded on the surface of the RC films. The RC films coated with Cu nanoparticles showed efficient antibacterial activity against
Staphylococcus aureus (
S. aureus) and
Escherichia coli (
E. coli). The dramatic reduction of viable bacteria could be observed within 0.5 h of exposure, and all of the bacteria were killed within 1 h.
Keywords:
copper nanoparticles; cellulose; nanocomposite film; one-step reduction; antibacterial