International. A thin-film combination of anti-reflective and biocidal properties would be of particular interest in reducing infection transfer and improving the readability of touch screens. In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Salford (UK), the development of a dual-functioning film of silica and copper oxide was described.
The deposition was performed by chemical deposition in flame-assisted vapor phase, which has the advantages of being a cost-effective atmospheric pressure technique that allows the use of non-volatile precursors and that does not require a closed reaction cell, making it ideal for integration into industrial production lines.
The resulting films were characterized by a number of techniques including optical spectroscopy, electron microscope, and X-ray fluorescence. The biocidal behavior was tested by determining the death rate of Escherichia coli. A 3-layer stack on silica/copper/silica oxide glass had better adhesion and less reflection than a comparable 2-layer stack.
This multilayer film produced a 2% reduction in reflection from that of uncoated glass, similar to that of silica film alone. In addition, they showed a mortality> 6 log10 between 6 and 24 h for the deposited and annealed samples.
Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com
