Abstract
The antimicrobial properties of graphene-based membranes such as single-layer graphene oxide (GO) and modified graphene oxide (rGO) on top of cellulose ester membrane are reported in this study. rGO membranes are made from GO by hydriodic acid (HI) vapor treatment. The antibacterial properties are tested after 3 h contact time with selected model bacteria. Complete bacterial cell inactivation is found only after contact with rGO membranes, while no significant bacterial inactivation is found for the control i) GO membrane, ii) the mixed cellulose ester support, and the iii) rGO membrane after additional washing that removes the remaining HI. This indicates that the antimicrobial effect is neither caused by the graphene nor the membrane support. The antimicrobial effect is found to be conclusively linked to the HI eliminating microbial growth, at concentrations from 0.005%. These findings emphasize the importance of caution in the reporting of antimicrobial properties of graphene-based surfaces.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1901023 |
| Journal | Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 28 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 30 2019 |
Bibliographical note
KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) through Industrial Facilities & Infrastructure Research program, funded by the Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) (RE201901124 and RE201901110).