Biologically Produced Silver-Carbon Composite Materials for Optically Functional Thin-Film Coatings

Metal-containing bacteria as precursors for thin films is the concept behind the production of these ceramic–metal composites (cermets) that consist of an organic carbon matrix with embedded crystalline metallic silver particles of various morphologies and sizes (see Figure). It is demonstrated that the optical properties of the films can be tailored by adjustment of temperature and metal volume fraction.