Bactericidal, virucidal and fungicidal effect of ZnO, Ag, and ZnO+Ag coatings

Intensified globalization means the wider spread of pathogenic viruses, bacteria and fungi. Many such microorganisms are transmitted through contact with surfaces polluted with biodeposits as well as through human activity, which greatly increases the risk of infections caused by microbes. Therefore, the search for new effective solutions to inactivate pathogenic microorganisms that ensure safety and improve quality and comfort of life has become a global priority and major challenge. A very effective activity in this area may be the use of surface engineering technologies, which enable the production of coatings with biocidal properties. The very large possibilities of these technologies in terms of shaping the microstructure, chemical composition and phase composition of coatings enable effective shaping of functional properties. The aim of this study was to compare the properties of three types of coatings deposited by HIPIMS characterized by different chemical compositions and microstructures. In this work, all the produced coatings were analyzed in terms of their material, physical and biocidal properties. The authors confirmed the very good biocidal properties of the tested materials against various groups of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses) at the same time.