Silver-Polydopamine Hybrid Coatings of Electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanofibers

Catechol, a unique adhesive molecule found in mussel proteins, can reduce metal ions while it is oxidized and polymerized with amines to polydopamine (pD). Here, pD coatings are employed with simultaneous reduction of metal ions to prepare electrospun polymer nanofibers functionalized with metal nanoparticles. The oxidative polymerization of dopamines mediates the reduction of silver ions to metallic silver nanoparticles and their deposition on polymer nanofibers. The formation of silver-pD-coated polymer nanofibers stabilizes the porous structure of nanofibers in aqueous solution. It is expected that the pD-mediated metal coatings on polymer nanofibers can be used to prepare highly porous, inorganic/organic hybrid nanomaterials for a broad range of practical applications.