MXene-intercalated montmorillonite nanocomposites for long-acting antibacterial

[Display omitted] •Formed intercalation structure with montmorillonite gave MXene excellent stability.•Montmorillonite-MXene/silver nanoparticles (MTX/Ag) were prepared by in situ method.•MTX/Ag shows long-acting and high-efficiency antibacterial activity.•The multiple antimicrobial mechanisms of MTX/Ag have been elaborated.•MTX/Ag antibacterial agents prolonged the service life of wood products. MXene has attracted widespread attention in the field of antibacterial due to the unique photothermal and photodynamic property. However, its application in durable antimicrobial field is greatly limited by its instability and weak antibacterial activity. In this study, ultrasonic-impelled MXene was used to intercalate montmorillonite (MMT) layers and fabricate montmorillonite/MXene nanocomposites (MTX) with micro-nano protective structure. The nanoconfinement effect protected MXene from oxidation for 30 days, making it possible to long-term use. Furthermore, hydrophilic Ag NPs synthesized by natural polymer lignin were immobilized in the MTX, which could enhance the antibacterial effect of MTX and retard the cumulative release of Ag NPs. MTX/Ag exhibited excellent photothermal, photodynamic and antibacterial activity, achieving over 99.9 % antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus for 28 days. Meanwhile, the antibacterial mechanism of MTX/Ag has been thoroughly studied. Importantly, the stability of MTX endowed the MTX/Ag-NIR with photothermal stability and cyclic stability, achieving 30 days antifungal effect on wood powder. These studies provided a novel idea to fabricate a stable, long-acting, and efficient antibacterial agent for precious furniture.