ZnO-Ag hybrid nanoparticles were fabricated by seed-mediated growth method and incorporated into the UV-curable acrylate resin matrice to form a composite. This improved the mechanical property of UV-cured coating and exhibited high antibacterial activity against E. coli.

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The goal of this work is to study the antibacterial activity of acrylic polymer/ZnO–Ag nanocomposite coating. First, in the presence of UV light ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]nm), Ag nanoparticles (NPs; derived from AgNO3 precursor) were photoreduced and deposited on the surface of nano-ZnO. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images indicated that the AgNPs (5–15[Formula: see text]nm) were deposited on the surface of nano-ZnO (20–40[Formula: see text]nm). These ZnO–Ag nanohybrids (0.1–0.2[Formula: see text]wt.%) were incorporated into the acrylic polymer matrix using ultrasonication to form the nanocomposite coating ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m thick). Nano-ZnO hybridized with AgNPs resulted in a decrease in the energy gap ([Formula: see text] of ZnO from 3.2[Formula: see text]eV to 2.7[Formula: see text]eV, as observed by diffused reflectance UV–Vis spectrum analysis. The abrasion resistance test indicated that the incorporation of hybrid NPs enhanced the abrasion resistance of the polymer coating (from 81 to 125[Formula: see text]l/mil). Moreover, the polymer nanocomposite coating showed high antibacterial efficacy against [Formula: see text]. coli and [Formula: see text]. aureus in antibacterial tests and achieved 1.8 and 1.2 log after 24[Formula: see text]h, respectively. These findings endorse that the ZnO–Ag nanohybrid-based water-borne nanocomposite coatings offer exceptional antibacterial efficiency and would be promising in this application.

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