Selective Antimicrobial Properties of W-Ge Nanocomposite Thin Films

Abstract

The antimicrobial properties of W-Ge nanocomposite thin films as a function of Ge concentration were investigated within the scope of this study. The films were deposited on an AZ61Mg substrate using a magnetron sputter source with a co-deposition technique. Structural analyses showed that all coatings had a composite crystal structure. Additionally, the morphological investigation indicated that films had goosefoot-type structures at low Ge concentrations (5% and 10%), while Ge-rich films (40% and 60%) had cauliflower-type structures. The 20% Ge concentration coating had both structures. Regarding the surface morphology, the root mean square roughness of the surface reached its maximum value at a Ge concentration of 60% while the surface roughness and wettability of all the films showed an opposite trend. The antimicrobial activity of the W-Ge nanocomposite films against gram-negative (Salmonella typhimurium NRRLE 4413, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922) and gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus 6538 P., Bacillus subtilis IM 622) bacteria was investigated via disc diffusion antibiotic sensitivity assay. Based on the antibacterial activity test, it was concluded that although all the films had antimicrobial efficiency against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, they were more effective against gram-positive bacteria. Moreover, with the increased surface roughness of the films, the number of grain boundaries, which cause an increase in the intensity of the oxide phases of the metals, increases, resulting in better antibacterial activity.

Keywords

• nanocomposite thin film
• tungsten
• germanium
• antibacterial efficiency
• surface roughness

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