Synthesis of ZnO and Ag/ZnO Nanorods: Characterization and Synergistic In Vitro Biocidal Studies

Abstract

<jats:p>The ZnO semiconductor has gained substantial interest in the research community in part because of its large exciton binding energy (60 meV) and direct wide band gap (3.72 eV). ZnO and Ag doped ZnO (Ag<jats:sub><jats:italic>x</jats:italic></jats:sub> Zn<jats:sub>1−<jats:italic>x</jats:italic></jats:sub>O (where <jats:italic>x</jats:italic> = 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03)) were synthesized by using soft chemical route. The synthesized materials were characterized by using XRD, HRSEM, EDS and HRTEM. The powder XRD pattern indicates that the ZnO and Ag<jats:sub><jats:italic>x</jats:italic></jats:sub> Zn<jats:sub>1−<jats:italic>x</jats:italic></jats:sub>O (where <jats:italic>x</jats:italic> = 0.01, 0.02 and 0.03) samples exhibits hexagonal wurtzite structure and also the Ag doping decreases the grain size of ZnO nano particles. The micro structural characterizations (HRSEM and HRTEM) reveal the incorporation of Ag into the ZnO lattice and also the formation of nano rods. At the length, the antimicrobial response was also brought against human pathogenic Gram +ve (<jats:italic>S. aureus</jats:italic>), Gram −ve (<jats:italic>E. coli</jats:italic>) bacteria and Fungi (<jats:italic>C. albicans</jats:italic>). Thus the above work brings out the presence of antimicrobial response against the microbes from these nano composites.</jats:p>