Economically Viable Fabrication Method of Nanocomposite Materials From Linear Arrays of Metallic Nanoparticles and Nanorods on Tubular Halloysite Templates

In this work, we report a simple fabrication method for metal nanoparticles and nanorods on halloysite supports. Silver nanorods of 15 nm diameter were synthesized by thermal decomposition of silver acetate within halloysite lumen. Nanorods had crystalline nature with [111] axis oriented ∼ 68° from the halloysite tubule main axis. Linear arrays from gold, iron, cobalt and palladium nanoparticles on halloysite external surface were also synthesized by chemical and thermal reduction method. Samples were analyzed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. These in situ syntheses offer a simple method for large scale fabrication of metallic nanorods and core-shell ceramic nanocomposites, which can be used as antimicrobial additives in plastic composites, nanoelectronic and optical materials with biocompatibility and environmentally friendly. Antimicrobial thin films were prepared based on halloysite-silver nanocomposites and tested on E. Coli and S Aureus bacterial culture. Antibacterial performance of the nanocomposite material was superior to the other conventional antimicrobial additives (silver doped bioactive glasses and carbon nanotubes). Radiation protection coatings based on fabricated nanocomposite materials is under development.