Nanopowders, Thin Films, and Devices

Anti-microbial coatings are used to reduce or stop growth of organisms like bacteria and fungi. Although there are many chemicals developed for anti-microbial purposes, one of the oldest methods known to combat microbes is silver, where a small amount of silver ions is often all that is needed. Unlike most other heavy metals that also exhibit anti-microbial activity, silver is not detrimental to humans, especially in the tiny quantities used for anti-microbial applications. In addition, since silver acts in multiple ways to inhibit a bacterium, resistant strain development of the organism is thought to be less likely than with other anti-bacterial products. nGimat's NanoSpray Combustion Processing technology is suited to making silver nanostructured functional surfaces. nGimat is pursuing antimicrobial surfaces by depositing a layer of adherent silver nanodots onto substrates to provide, in the presence of moisture, silver ions to inhibit growth of fungi and bacteria for applications such as food packaging. nGimat Home