Investigation of Mechanical and Antibacterial Performance of Novel Polyaniline (PANI) Coatings via PLD

This dissertation presents the development and characterization of advanced multifunctional coatings that combine conductive polymers with pulsed-laser-deposited (PLD) metallic nanolayers to enhance adhesion, mechanical strength, and antibacterial activity. Conductive polymers such as polyaniline (PANI) offer corrosion protection and electrical conductivity, but their practical applications are limited by poor adhesion to metallic substrates. To overcome this limitation, ultrathin titanium (Ti) interlayers and silver–copper (Ag–Cu) composite top coatings were introduced to form hybrid organic inorganic structures with improved mechanical durability and surface functionality. The PANI coatings were chemically synthesized and heat-treated at 350 °F for three hours, resulting in significant adhesion improvement confirmed by ASTM D 3359 tape testing and long-term NaCl exposure analysis. The Ti/Ag–Cu multilayers deposited on glass and silicon substrates using PLD demonstrated enhanced antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, while maintaining structural integrity under abrasion and hardness tests. Characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM, EDX, and contact-angle measurements confirmed the influence of deposition parameters, oxygen environment, and post-heat treatment on coating performance. The results establish a scalable strategy for producing thin, adherent, and multifunctional PANI/Ti/Ag–Cu coatings suitable for corrosion-resistant, biomedical, and energy applications.

Author dc:creator

• Saleh Aldwais (21659069)

• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Surface Engineering

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright
• Open Access after 2028-01-01

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.31451752.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/31451752