The formation and characterisation of ultra-thin films containing Ag nanoparticles

A simple three step method for creating ultra-thin films, which contain Ag nanoparticles, on both glass and stainless steel surfaces, is presented. First, during the immersion into N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane (DIAMO) a monolayer of DIAMO is attached on the sample surface after which immersion in silver nitrate is performed and a complex between the two amino groups of DIAMO and silver ions forms, leading to large clusters on the surface. During the annealing step these silver containing clusters are converted into silver nanoparticles which are homogeneously distributed and bound to the surface. The formation of the film was characterised using UV/Vis, FE-SEM and FE-AES. Additionally, SERS activity of the surface and the effect of the attachment of the nanoparticles on their antibacterial nature were also investigated.