Methods and Compositions for Metal Nanoparticle Treated Surfaces

Abstract

The present invention comprises methods and compositions comprising metal nanoparticles. The invention comprises metal nanoparticles and surfaces treated with a metal nanoparticle coating. The present invention further comprises compositions for preparing nanoparticles comprising at least one stabilizing agent, one or more metal compounds, at least one reducing agent and a solvent. In one aspect, the stabilizing agent comprises a surfactant or a polymer. The polymer may comprise polymers such as polyacrylamides, polyurethanes, and polyamides. In one aspect, the metal compound comprises a salt comprising a metal cation and an anion. The anion may comprise saccharinate derivatives, long chain fatty acids, and alkyl dicarboxylates.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . An article produced by a method of rendering an elastomeric surface electrically conductive, wherein the method comprises:
 a) mixing an aqueous solution of a stabilizing agent, wherein the stabilizing agent is a polymer, a surfactant, or both; sodium saccharinate; and a soluble silver salt, and further wherein there is a molar excess of sodium saccharinate to soluble silver salt, wherein the ratio of the sodium saccharinate to soluble silver salt is between 1 and 5, and adding a reducing agent to the aqueous solution to form silver nano particles;   b) contacting the elastomeric surface with the aqueous solution for a time sufficient for an effective amount of the nanoparticles to adhere to the surface; and   c) rinsing the surface, thereby rendering the surface electrically conductive.   
     
     
         35 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the method further comprises heating the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         36 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the contacting step is repeated multiple times to increase the amount of silver adhering to the surface. 
     
     
         37 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the elastomeric surface is silicone, polyurethane, synthetic or natural rubber, a synthetic or natural polymer, flexible polymers of polyimides, polyamides, polyacetals, polysulfones, PBTs, PBO's, ethylene and propylene based polymers, acetate polymers, polyacrylates, polycarbonate, PET's, PEN's or blends thereof or co-polymeric derivatives. 
     
     
         38 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the reducing agent is a tertiary amine, a secondary amine, or a primary amine; a homopolymer having a primary amine, a secondary amine, or a tertiary amine moiety; or a copolymer having a primary amine, a secondary amine, or a tertiary amine moiety. 
     
     
         39 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the polymer is a naturally-derived or synthetic homopolymer, a naturally derived or synthetic copolymer, acrylamide and its derivatives, methacrylamide and its derivatives, a polyamide, a polyurethane, a polymer having no particular backbone but with urethane segments or tertiary amine groups in the side chains, other polymers predominantly polar in nature or co-polymers having a portion derived from polar co-monomers, methacrylamide, substituted acrylamides, substituted methacrylamides, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and its salts (sodium, potassium, ammonium), 2-vinyl pyrrolidone, 2-vinyl oxazoline, vinyl acetate, or maleic anhydride. 
     
     
         40 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the surfactant is an anionic, nonionic, or amphoteric surfactant. 
     
     
         41 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the soluble silver salt is converted to a less soluble silver saccharinate due to the molar excess of sodium saccharinate. 
     
     
         42 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the ratio of the sodium saccharinate to soluble silver salt is between 1.05 and 2. 
     
     
         43 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the ratio of the sodium saccharinate to soluble silver salt is between 1.1 and 1.5. 
     
     
         44 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein the article comprises flexible mirrors, stretchable elastic conductive polymers, and articles used to reduce electromagnetic interference, to shield devices and circuits against electrostatic discharging, and to impart radar invisibility to aircraft or other vehicles. 
     
     
         45 . An article produced by a method of rendering an article or surface contacting a fluid resistant to biofilm formation, wherein the method comprises:
 a) mixing an aqueous solution of a stabilizing agent, wherein the stabilizing agent is a polymer, a surfactant, or both; sodium saccharinate; and a soluble silver salt, and further wherein there is a molar excess of sodium saccharinate to soluble silver salt, wherein the ratio of the sodium saccharinate to soluble silver salt is between 1 and 5, and adding a reducing agent to the aqueous solution to form silver nanoparticles;   b) contacting the article or surface with the aqueous solution for a time sufficient for an effective amount of the nanoparticles to adhere to the article or surface; and   c) rinsing the surface, thereby rendering the article or surface resistant to biofilm formation.   
     
     
         46 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the method further comprises heating the aqueous solution. 
     
     
         47 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the contacting step is repeated multiple times to increase the amount of silver adhering to the article or surface. 
     
     
         48 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the article or surface is made of steel, stainless steel, glass, titanium, copper, gold, synthetic and natural polymers, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polysulfone, silicones, HTV, RTV, blends or co-polymer derivatives. 
     
     
         49 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the reducing agent is a tertiary amine, a secondary amine, or a primary amine; a homopolymer having a primary amine, a secondary amine, or a tertiary amine moiety; or a copolymer having a primary amine, a secondary amine, or a tertiary amine moiety. 
     
     
         50 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the polymer is wherein the polymer is a naturally-derived or synthetic homopolymer, a naturally derived or synthetic copolymer, acrylamide and its derivatives, methacrylamide and its derivatives, a polyamide, a polyurethane, a polymer having no particular backbone but with urethane segments or tertiary amine groups in the side chains, other polymers predominantly polar in nature or co-polymers having a portion derived from polar co-monomers, methacrylamide, substituted acrylamides, substituted methacrylamides, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylonitrile, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and its salts (sodium, potassium, ammonium), 2-vinyl pyrrolidone, 2-vinyl oxazoline, vinyl acetate, or maleic anhydride. 
     
     
         51 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the surfactant is an anionic, nonionic, or amphoteric surfactant. 
     
     
         52 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the soluble silver salt is converted to a less soluble silver saccharinate due to the molar excess of sodium saccharinate. 
     
     
         53 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the ratio of the sodium saccharinate to the soluble silver salt is between 1.05 and 2. 
     
     
         54 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the wherein the ratio of the sodium saccharinate to the soluble silver salt is between 1.1 and 1.5. 
     
     
         55 . The article of  claim 45 , wherein the article comprises food storage and preparation devices, marine or water vehicles, hulls, propellers, anchors, ballast tanks, motors, pilings, liquid filtering equipment, tubing ropes, chains, fish tanks, liquid containers, water bowls, cooling towers, water tanks, canteens, fuel tanks, or storage bins.