Antibacterial Structures Based on Electrically Charged Nanostructured Metal Films on Semiconductors

For laser-beam nanostructured metal films deposited on single-crystal silicon wafers, antibacterial properties when applying a weak electric field not higher than 6.5 V are detected for the first time. It is shown that these properties are controlled by the presence of a periodic variable resistivity profile on the structure surface, and the presence of a metal-semiconductor junction (Schottky barrier) in such a structure.

Automated summary

For the first time, antibacterial properties were detected in laser-beam nanostructured metal films deposited on single-crystal silicon wafers when applying a weak electric field not higher than 6.5 V. The presence of a periodic variable resistivity profile on the structure surface and a metal-semiconductor junction (Schottky barrier) were found to control these properties.