Metal nanoparticles give sticky tape new abilities
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028644
New Scientist : A common roll of adhesive tape can acquire remarkable properties simply by having metal nanoparticles deposited on the film’s surface. The tape, which retains its stickiness after the deposition, exhibits new properties depending on the metal nanoparticles applied to its surface. Silver particles render it antibacterial, copper makes it antifungal, and gold increases its electrical conductivity. As described in a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, a strip of tape is first peeled off the roll, which breaks the chemical bonds in the adhesive and readies it to react with the metal. Then it is soaked in a solution of metal salts. The technique could be used to create products such as antibacterial bandages or electrically conducting tape.
