Hydrophobic Surgical Mask based on Sputtered Amorphous Carbon Embedded Silve Nanocluster (SAC-Ag) Film

Abstract

The COVID-19 virus transmits via contaminated surfaces or respiratory droplets. Masks reduce infection risk by blocking virus-containing droplets from sneezing and talking. However, commercial surgical masks are made of low-melting-point polymers, limiting advanced coating techniques. This report presents a novel low-temperature coating method using Ion Beam Sputtering Deposition (IBSD) to apply an Amorphous Carbon-embedded silver nanocluster (SAC-Ag) film onto surgical masks. This coating significantly enhances surface hydrophobicity while preserving the polymeric substrate morphology during deposition. Improved hydrophobicity was demonstrated by a water contact angle of 136°±2.4°, indicating enhanced droplet repellence and reduced droplet adhesion on the coated surface. Additionally, the silver nanoclusters may provide antimicrobial benefits as reported in previous studies; however, antimicrobial performance was not experimentally evaluated in this work.