Influence of Bi addition on the property of Ag-Bi nano-composite coatings

TL;DR

This study develops Ag-Bi nano-composite coatings using a novel ionic co-discharge method, significantly enhancing their mechanical, corrosion resistance, and antibacterial properties for broader industrial applications.

Contribution

Introduces a new ionic co-discharge technique to produce Ag-Bi nano-composite coatings with improved properties and uniform nano-particle distribution.

Findings

Ag-Bi nano-particles are uniformly distributed in the coating.

Hardness increased by 60% with Bi addition.

Enhanced corrosion resistance observed.

Abstract

Silver (Ag) coatings have been widely used in many industry areas due to their excellent conductivity. However, wider applications of Ag coatings have been hindered by their poor mechanical properties. In this research, to improve the mechanical performance, Ag-Bi nano-composite coatings were prepared by a novel ionic co-discharge method. A systematic study of the microstructure, mechanical properties, electrical conductivity and antibacterial behavior of the resulting coating was performed. The results indicated that after adding an appropriate amount of Bi containing solution into the Ag plating solution, Ag-Bi nano-particles were in-situ formed and distributed uniformly throughout the coating matrix, resulting in a significant improvement in the mechanical properties. The hardness of Ag-Bi coating was increased by 60% compared to that of the pure Ag coating. The corrosion resistance of Ag-Bi coatings was also enhanced. The outcome of this research may find a broader application in electronics, jewelry, aerospace and other industries.