Synthesis Of ZnO Nanomaterials, WOx Nanoparticles And WOx/ZnO Nanocomposites For Inhibition Of Bacterial Growth And Organic Dyes Removal
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Date
2018-12-01
Authors
Ying, Yuet Lee
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Waste water treatment using wide bandgap semiconductor particles, in particular
the ZnO nanoparticles, is one of the alternative and economical approach. However,
the photodegradation of organic pollutants by ZnO nanoparticles is relatively poor
due to fast recombination of photogenerated electron-holes. In addition, the
antibacterial activities reported from various research groups were often confusing
and contradicting. The present study aimed to improve the photocatalytic
performance of ZnO nanoparticles from the morphology and coupling perspectives.
In this project, the ZnO submicron rods (46.19 %) demonstrated better
photodegradation efficiency than ZnO nanodisks (21.47 %) after 75 minutes of
ultraviolet light irradiation. The photodegradation efficiency of ZnO submicron rods
was improved slightly by depositing narrow bandgap semiconductor (WOx
nanoparticles). The photodegradation efficiency of WOx/ZnO nanocomposites
achieved 48.38 % under UV irradiation. These nanoparticles were tested for their
antibacterial activity using antibacterial susceptibility assay without and with UV
light irradiation. Based on the results, both ZnO submicron rods and WOx/ZnO
nanocomposites displayed better antibacterial performance against Gram-positive
bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) than Gram-negative bacteria
(Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), the effectiveness of inhibition on
bacteria by these particles were bacteria-type dependent, and only Escherichia coli
was sensitive to the presence of WO3.