ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Macroporous Ag/HA materials for antibacterial photothermal membranes in solar steam generation systems

Phan Thi Lan Huong, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Nguyen Minh Hoang, Nguyen Ba Hung, and Vu Thi Trang

Faculty of Physics - Biophysics, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam

E-mail: vuthitrang@vmmu.edu.vn

Received: 13 March 2025  Accepted: 23 June 2025

Abstract:

The increasing global demand for clean water has driven significant research into solar steam generation and water purification technologies. Hydroxyapatite (HA), a biocompatible and chemically stable material, has demonstrated promise for water treatment due to its excellent adsorption properties. However, microbial contamination poses a significant challenge to its application for solar steam generation. Herein, a novel macroporous silver-doped hydroxyapatite (Ag/HA) nanocomposite was used for the first time in fabricating photothermal membranes. The incorporation of 8.8% atomic percentage Ag into Ag/HA significantly alters its structure, introducing macroporous voids, which are excellent for water transportation and steam release in solar steam generation. The results show that the Ag/HA membrane achieved an evaporation rate of 1.202 kgm⁻² h⁻¹ under one-sun illumination, a 1.33-fold increase compared to pure HA membranes. Additionally, antibacterial evaluations using the disk diffusion method revealed significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with inhibition zones increasing with Ag/HA concentration. These findings highlight the potential of Ag/HA nanocomposites as an efficient and durable solution for water harvesting and purification.

Keywords: Ag/HA; Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus aureus; Solar steam generation; Antibacterial activity

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04209-y

Chemical Papers 79 (10) 6635–6644 (2025)