Synergistic MXene-silver Coatings for Advanced Antibacterial Nylon 6,6 Membranes

Abstract The growing threat of antibiotic-resistant pathogens necessitates the development of novel antibacterial materials. In this study, Ti₃C₂Tₓ-based MXene and MXene-silver composite coated Nylon-6,6 membranes were fabricated and evaluated for their antimicrobial properties. Nylon 6,6 membranes were coated with MXene using a vacuum-assisted filtration technique to enhance surface functionality and antibacterial performance. To further improve antibacterial efficacy, silver (Ag) nanoparticles were incorporated into the MXene layer, forming MXene-silver composite materials. The X-ray diffraction analysis of MXene confirmed successful phase transformation, evidenced by a pronounced shift in the (002) peak corresponding to increased interlayer spacing and the formation of few-layered MXene. Scanning electron microscopy of the coated membranes revealed a uniformly distributed, wrinkled, layered morphology, indicating effective surface coverage and strong interaction with the membrane substrate. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy verified the presence of -OH, -F, and -O functional groups, confirming successful surface functionalization. Antibacterial assays demonstrated that both MXene and MXene-silver coated membranes exhibits significant inhibition of bacterial growth, with the highest antibacterial activity observed for membranes containing 2 wt.% silver incorporated MXene at a concentration of 0.06 mg/mL. This enhanced performance was attributed to the synergistic effects of MXene’s reactive surface terminations and the bactericidal properties of silver. Overall, these findings demonstrate that MXene-silver composite coated membranes possess excellent structural, surface, and antibacterial characteristics, highlighting their potential for applications in antibacterial coatings, water purification, and biomedical filtration.