Free-Standing Films from Aqueous Dispersions of Lysozyme, Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, and Polyvinyl Alcohol

Transparent antibacterial films were produced by casting concentrated dispersions of lysozyme (LSZ), single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The initial SWNT dispersion state had a significant influence on the films' mechanical properties. Films containing 9 wt % bundled SWNTs had six times higher Young's modulus than control films produced without SWNTs. Removal of SWNT bundles by centrifugation prior to concentrating the dispersions resulted in films that contained only 4.5 wt % SWNT but had over eight times higher Young's modulus than the control films.