Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HeriCare (2D Materials/Polyoxometalate Hybrids for Heritage Conservation)
Berichtszeitraum: 2019-10-16 bis 2021-10-15
The antimicrobial assays were performed on non-pathogenic microorganisms, including the bacteria B. Subtilis and B. Megaterium and the fungi A. Niger. These microorganisms are capable of quickly degrading the photographic films under humid conditions. In contrast with the quick growth of the microorganisms and degradation of the pristine photographic film, those protected with a thin coating of silver nanowires showed a reduction greater than 99.5 % in the number of viable, culturable bacteria, and the fungi did not grow even after 14 days in humid conditions (Relative humidity >98%).
The implementation of the project included the training of the researcher on the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and on microbiological cultures and the performance of antimicrobial assays.
Exploitation and dissemination: the project did not produce results suitable for copyright or patenting. As a result of the action, a review article summarizing the state of the art of the use of nanomaterials as antimicrobials in the field of Heritage conservation has been published in the journal Chem (Cell Press, Elsevier), and a manuscript describing the use of silver nanowires as protective antimicrobial layer of photographic films is in preparation. The results have been presented at the E-MRS Spring meeting 2021 and the IBBS conference 2021.
Image foot: H: Liquid crystal demonstrator used in NanoRural. E: Course “New perspectives on the application of nanomaterials in Heritage Conservation and Restoration” organised in Albarracín (Teruel). R: C3N4 flakes under the electronic microscope (false coloured). I: Resazurin assay with POMs. C: Science dissemination in a rural school. A: colour photographic film. R: undeveloped fungi spore on silver-treated colour negatives, under electron microscope (false coloured). E: NanoRural science dissemination in Lecina, under the European Tree of the year 2021 :)