Determination of the efficiency of AgNPs/ZIF-8 coating on different substrates

Abstract

Depending on different applications or materials that integrate with the substrate as well as the transduction method used in the biosensors, different materials of the substrate are considered. This research focuses on selecting the appropriate substrate in designing biosensors, detecting microorganisms in the environment. In this study, the glass slide (glass), Polyethylen plastic (PE plastic), and the cellulose paper (cellulose acetate (CA) & cellulose nitrate (CN)) are investigated substrates for coating AgNPs/ZIF-8 – material used as an optical signal amplification in further steps, using structural analysis techniques – Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphology characterization and the Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) for optical characterization. A morphology characterization with SEM showed that cellulose paper is a better substrate in comparing with the other substrates (glass, PE), because the sensity of distribution on CN was the highest (85-90%) when it coated with AgNPs/ZIF-8. According to EDS analysis, the ratios of Ag in mixture on CN substrate (15.38±0.39% mass) is slightly higher than CA substrate (13.58±0.39% mass); and about 53 times higher than glass substrate (0.37±0.13% mass) and PE plastic substrate (0.29±0.08%). Therefore, cellulose paper (CA) will be suggested to select for further research as a new material with cost (inexpensive) and effectiveness in coating AgNPs/ZIF-8.