Synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic, and antimicrobial activity of ZrO2 nanoparticles and Ag@ZrO2 nanocomposite prepared by the advanced oxidative process/hydrothermal route

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology Vol. 98; no. 1; pp. 113 - 126
• Main Authors: Nova, C. V., Reis, K. A., Pinheiro, A. L., Dalmaschio, C. J., Chiquito, A. J., Teodoro, M. D., Rodrigues, A. D., Longo, E., Pontes, F. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-04-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antimicrobial agents; Bacteria; Catalytic activity; Cell membranes; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; colloids; Composites; E coli; etc.; fibers; Fourier transforms; Glass; Gram-positive bacteria; Hydrothermal treatment; Infrared analysis; Inorganic Chemistry; Light emitting diodes; Light irradiation; Materials Science; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles; Oxidation; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Photoluminescence; Rhodamine; Scanning electron microscopy; Silver; X-ray diffraction; Zirconium dioxide; Nanoparticles; Hydrothermal route; Nanocomposite; ZrO; Ag
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-021-05488-z

ZrO
2
nanoparticles (ZrO
2
NPs) and Ag@ZrO
2
nanocomposite (Ag@ZrO
2
NCs) were prepared from zirconium (IV) butoxide in the absence of base or acid mineraliser by the advanced oxidation processes (AOP) and subsequent hydrothermal treatment. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Raman, Photoluminescence (PL), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). XRD and Raman analyses confirmed ZrO
2
NPs and Ag@ZrO
2
NCs tetragonal crystalline phase synthesized at 200 °C for 1 h. HRTEM images of ZrO
2
NPs and Ag@ZrO
2
NCs after treatment at 200 °C indicated small nanoparticles with characteristic size of 5–8 nm (ZrO
2
) and 40–50 nm (Ag NPs). It was found that Ag@ZrO
2
NCs showed outstanding photocatalytic activity in photodegradation Rhodamine B dye compared with pure ZrO
2
NPs. Antibacterial activity tests of ZrO
2
NPs and Ag@ZrO
2
NCs were carried out using
E. coli
and
S. aureus
as model strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Ag@ZrO
2
NCs were capable of efficiently growth inhibition of bacteria cultures in more than 75%
E. Coli
compared to ZrO
2
NPs that exhibited <10% instead. However, at the same concentration (for example 0.25 mg/mL) we found that both ZrO
2
NPs and Ag@ZrO
2
NCs were significantly more effective against
S. aureus
in comparison with
E. coli
showing bacterial growth inhibition higher than 90% for
S. aureus
. Morphological observation of bacterial cells by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that nanoparticles and nanocomposite caused irreversible damage to the cell membrane.
Highlights
Antimicrobial and catalysis properties of ZrO
2
and Ag@ZrO
2
were investigated by kinetic process.
Ag@ZrO
2
nanocomposite showed 99% degradation of RhB in 60 min under 467 nm LED light irradiation.
Ag@ZrO
2
nanocomposite showed superior antibacterial properties compared to pure ZrO
2
NPs.