PVA/Carbon Dot Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Simple Introduction of Ag Nanoparticles with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

The introduction of nanomaterials to hydrogels is an effective way to improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels. Herein, carbon nanodot (C‐dot) as a new‐found excellent nanomaterial is first added to polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel to prepare PVA/C‐dot hydrogel by freeze–thaw method. The appropriate size and plenty of surface functional groups make C‐dot an ideal nucleating agent for PVA crystallization, which leads to form a denser and...