In this experiment direct electrospinning was used to produce Polylactic acid/silver nanowire (PLA/AgNWs) biocomposite fibers. This method engineered and produced nanofibers with core‐shell structure. Antimicrobial activity was studied using AATCC 100‐1993 test method, and electrical resistivity measurement was performed by four‐point probes. The results showed that nanofibers with core‐shell structures can be successfully produced. Results of antibacterial activity testing of nanofibers against both Staphylococcus aureus, a gram‐positive bacterium, and E. coli, a gram‐negative bacterium, indicated considerable antibacterial properties. Further, the electrical resistivity of nanofiber composites based of PLA/AgNWs was higher than that of pure PLA. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E65–E72, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers

Synthesis and characterization of multiple crystalline silver nanowires (NWs) with uniform diameters were carried out by using 1,2-propandiol and ethylene glycol (EG) as comediated solvents and FeCl3as mediated agent in the presence of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). Experimental data and structural characterizations revealed that AgNWs have evolved from the multiple crystalline seeds initially generated by reduction of AgNO3with EG and 1,2-propandiol followed by reducing Fe(III) to Fe(II) which in turn reacts with and removes adsorbed atomic oxygen from the surfaces of silver seeds. In addition, uniform silver nanowires were obtained by using FeCl2and AlCl3as mediated agents in EG solution. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed uniform nanowires in both diameter and length. UV-Vis spectra showed adsorption peaks confirming the formation of nanowires. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns displayed the final product with high crystallinity and purity. In this study, a growth mechanism for forming AgNWs was proposed and a comparison between different mediated agents was carried out.