Influence of activation time on the microstructure and antibacterial activity of Nanosilver-containing activated carbon fibers prepared from liquefied wood

Abstract

Liquefied wood-based carbon fibers activated for different periods of time were modified by silver to produce nanosilver-containing activated carbon fibers (WACF/Ag). The microstructure and antibacterial activities of WACF and WACF/Ag were studied in this work. The results showed that WACF activated for longer periods of time had richer porosity and higher content active carbon-hydrogen bonds. More silver nanoparticles were found on WACF activated for longer periods of time. After loading silver on WACF, the relative contents of element carbon and graphitic carbon on fibers decreased, whereas those of elements oxygen and carbon bonded to oxygen-containing functions increased. With an increase in activation time, the changing ratios for elements oxygen and nitrogen gradually increased, while those for most of carboncontaining functions decreased. Meanwhile, as the activation time increased, the increasing silver particles were distributed on the surface and in pores of WACF, leading to the increasing micropores and mesopores of fibers were blocked by silver nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of WACF/Ag was strengthened by increasing the activation time of WACF.