BACKGROUNDRenewable resources have been considered for producing many advanced materials. In this respect, silver-doped carbon-based materials with a low loading capacity and high antibacterial activity can also be generated via environmentally friendly routes and from renewable resources. RESULTSSilver-doped carbon fibers were prepared from wood and cotton fibers via complexation and reduction reactions for depositing silver on the fibers and subsequently via carbonization of the loaded fibers. Silver loading before carbonization enhanced the stability of silver on the carbonized fibers, decreased silver loss (from 30 to 12%) and lowered the silver loading (5.66%) needed to achieve excellent antibacterial activity. However, wood-based silver-doped carbon fibers performed better than cotton-based carbon fibers with respect to loss of antibacterial activity (12% at a silver loading of 5.66% versus 24% at a silver loading of 7.97% in 800h respectively). These results are attributed to more uniformity in the distribution of silver nanoparticles in the porous structure of wood fibers than in cotton fibers. CONCLUSIONThe wood-based carbon fibers exhibited better antibacterial activity and stronger affinity for maintaining silver and lower required silver loadings, and the sequence of silver loading and carbonization was crucial in developing silver-loaded carbon fibers with good antibacterial performance. (c) 2019 Society of Chemical Industry