Novel synthesis of Ag@AgCl/ZnO by different radiation sources including radioactive isotope Co-60: Physicochemical and antimicrobial study

Abstract

This research has revealed the promising, environmentally friendly and one-step modification of ZnO nano-particles (NPs) based on radiation-assisted method for antimicrobial applications. Commercially available ZnO NPs were modified in aqueous solution of silver nitrate in the presence of the artificial radiation by using different sources of radiation such as high-power UV/Vis LED units and radioactive isotope Co-60. New nano-composites were characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, HRSTEM with 3D element mapping, DRS and PL spectrometry. The results showed that all samples were composed of Ag@AgCl NPs connected with ZnO NPs via stable heterojunction. The use of different radiation had significant influence on the prepared composites and the final antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Gram-positive Streptococcus salivarius, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria strains and yeast Candida albicans. The possible influence of irradiation on the final physiochemical and antimicrobial activity of Ag@AgCl/ZnO nanocomposites was proposed. It was found that the Ag@AgCl/ZnO irradiated by gamma- and beta(-) -radiation exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity.