Synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanostructures and its assessment on enhanced bacterial inhibition and photocatalytic degradation

Abstract

In the present study, chemical reaction method is used to synthesis zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures concurrently doped with tin and fluorine and investigated for the enhanced bacterial inhibition and photocatalytic degradation. The optical, structural, compositional morphological, photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of ZnO nanostructures by the influence of doping were also studied. The exciton absorption of ZnO spectrum observed at 370 nm is being blue shifted to 364 nm in doped ZnO confirms the increase in incorporation of Sn and F. As the doping levels of F and Sn are increased, the size of the nanoparticles decreases. This can be observed in the transmission electron microscopic images and XRD results. ZnO is showing the presence of spherical nanoparticles whereas doped samples showing nanosheets structures. The surface morphology of the prepared samples was once again confirmed with SEM pictures. The time-dependent photo-catalytic activities of pure and doped samples of ZnO were studied separately under irradiation of UV-visible and visible light by degradation of methylene blue. The antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities of the prepared samples increased with the increasing doping level of Sn and F. Especially, the nanomaterial was noted with better antimicrobial activity against Staphylococus aureaus and Escherichia coli respectively. This study showed the tuning capabilities by doping level of tin and flourine in ZnO nanostructures.

Keywords: Antibacterial; Double doping; Nanosheets; Photocatalyst; Tin and fluorine; Zinc oxide.