Antimicrobial materials and coatings

A structure comprising:

• a substrate, and
• a coating applied to a surface of the substrate, wherein the coating comprises a plurality of particles and wherein an average size of the particles is less than about 800 nm, wherein each of the particles at least partially adheres to at least one of the substrate or another one of the particles, wherein at least one portion of the substrate is covered by the coating, and wherein the coating exhibits antimicrobial properties.

An apparatus for providing a durable antimicrobial coating on a substrate, comprising:

• at least one electrode;
• and
• an electrode arrangement which is configured to produce an electrical arc at a distal end of the electrode without the distal end of the electrode being in proximity to an electrically grounded object, and which is further configured to provide particles discharged from the arc onto the substrate to form the antimicrobial coating.

A method for providing a durable antimicrobial coating on a substrate, the method comprising:

• producing an arc at a distal end of an electrode using an electrode arrangement which is configured to produce an electrical arc at a distal end of the electrode without the distal end of the electrode being in proximity to an electrically grounded object, wherein the arc is configured to discharge particular particles from the electrode;
• and
• providing the substrate in a proximity to the arc, wherein the particles are provided on at least one portion of the substrate and at least partially adhere to at least one of the substrate or further particles, wherein an average size of the particular particles is less than about 800 nm, and wherein the coating exhibits antimicrobial properties.

An antimicrobial material comprising:

• a plurality of particles, wherein each of the particles at least partially adheres one of the other particles, and wherein an average size of the particles is less than about 800 nm.