These preliminary results are very interesting and reveal that
the amount of AgNPs in the thin
films depends on the pH of the
polyelectrolyte solutions. In general, the inhibitory activity
observed in the thin
films (4 41), (4 4 2) and (4 4 4) is less
pronounced in relation to the thin
films (8 41), (8 4 2) and (8 4 4).
This difference indicates that there was a lower incorporation of
AgNPs in the thin
films where both polyelectrolytes have pH 4.0
because, at this pH, the
NH3
+ e
COO– groups are fully
interconnected electrostatically in the multilayers and there are
no remaining free
NH3
+ groups in the PAH that promote the
interaction with the AgNPs. In addition, for this pH condition
(4.0 and 4.0), the thin
films are thinner and rougher than at the
different pH condition (8.0 and 4.0), as the PAH chains are in a more
linear conformation [61]. Thus, the surface area for the