Synthesis, characterization, magnetic and antimicrobial properties of silver chromite nanoparticles

A novel nanostructured silver chromite with the chemical formula Ag2Cr2O4 was synthesized at 400 °C by simple, cost effective, flash auto-combustion method. The average crystallite size was found to be 76.6 nm by crystallographic study of X-ray analysis (XRD) which also showed single-phase formation with spinel cubic structure. The formation of the sample was assured by measuring the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum and the elemental study using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurement. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and the atomic force microscopy (AFM) were studied which showed a spherical interlinked behavior with aggregations of the grains. The M–H curve showed an exchange bias which gave a slight horizontal shift in the curve. The obtained data extracted from the magnetic properties recommended the suitability of Ag2Cr2O4 nanoparticles to be applied in information storage devices, MRAM, and sensor devices. Moreover, this is the first study to synthesize and analyze the characterization and antimicrobial properties of Ag2Cr2O4 nanoparticles at 400 °C. A fascinating behavior appeared by studying the antimicrobial properties which gave a strong antibacterial efficacy against S. aureus and B. subtilis (G +) and also against P. aeruginosa (G −) bacterial species. Also, it gave a strong antifungal efficacy against A. flavus (Aspergillus) and C. albicans (Candida) fungal species. Thus, Ag2Cr2O4 nanoparticles at 400 °C could be an attractive and an alternative antifungal and antibacterial nanomaterial that open new paths for new alternative nanomaterial chemotherapy against different bacteria and fungi.