The synthesis of
nanoparticles using environmentally friendly methods
for applications in fields such as food packaging and biomedicine
has been gaining increasing attention. Organic–inorganic nanostructures
offer opportunities to create innovative materials suitable for use
in optoelectronics and biological applications. In this study, we
focused on producing nanocomposite films by blending carboxymethyl
cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) polymers in equal proportions (50/50
wt %) and adding silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a solution
casting process. Our objective was to examine how the introduction
of Ag NPs influenced the structural, optical, mechanical, electrical,
and antibacterial properties of the virgin CMC/CS composites. XRD
patterns of the prepared samples indicated the presence of crystalline
Ag phases within the CMC/CS blend. FT-IR spectroscopy showed the primary
vibrational peaks associated with CMC and CS, which exhibited reduced
intensity after the addition of Ag NPs. The UV absorption of the nanocomposites
exhibited a gradual increase and a shift toward longer wavelengths.
The electrical properties are enhanced with higher concentrations
of Ag NPs. An increase in the content of Ag NPs resulted in a corresponding
enhancement of antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia
coli. The CMC/CS-Ag-doped films demonstrated significant
enhancements in Young’s modulus (Y), tensile stress (σt), and elongation at break (εB). These findings
suggest that these nanocomposite films hold promise for potential
applications in optoelectronics and biological fields.