The Effect of Silver Content in ZnO-Ag Nanoparticles on Their Photochemical and Antibacterial Activity

The development of new materials with antibacterial properties is a promising direction in the field of nanotechnology. In this work, ZnO-Ag nanoparticles with a silver content of 0.1-50 at % have been fabricated by the exploding wire method. ZnO-Ag nanoparticles absorb visible light and destroy the model dye Rhodamine B. The introduction of silver into nanoparticles has made it possible to shift the main absorption edge to 1.59-2.74 eV. The determined optimal content of silver in nanoparticles of 12 at % has ensured the degree of Rhodamine B decoloration by 85% within 60 min of exposure to visible light and has completely stopped the growth of E. coli bacteria at a concentration of 15.6 mu g/mL. In addition, nanoparticles containing 12 at % silver have sterilized a sample of natural water contaminated with microorganisms. The results obtained offer an efficient method for the synthesis of antibacterial nanocomposites with heterojunctions employing a high-performance technique for producing nanoparticles, namely, the exploding wire method.