Physiochemical Studies of Metal Doped ZnO Nanostructures and their Antibacterial activity Investigations

Abstract

Metal oxide nanoparticles gain a lot of attention for the researchers all over the world in past few years due to their applications in vast range of scientific and technological fields, such as in solar cells, LEDs, Laser diodes, spintronics, anticancer therapy, piezoelectric devices chemical and biological sensors and as antibacterial agents. In this work ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesis with a cost effective low temperature and easily reproducible chemical co-precipitation method.To enhance the antibacterial activity of ZnO, its physical, chemical and optical properties has been tuned. Ni dope ZnO nanoparticles have been prepared by same method. All experimental results shows the success doping of Ni into ZnO host matrix. Antibacterial potency of ZnO nanoparticles have been increased by Ni doping. Test shows enhanced antimicrobial activity in presence of light as compared to dark. Pure and Al doped ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized by chemical method. XRD results shows that Al doping cannot change the structure of ZnO and wurtzite phase is maintained. Crystallite size and particles size varies with Al concentration. Band gap of ZnO is increased with Al doping. Antibacterial activity of ZnO has been enhanced the increasing Al concentration into ZnO sites. Further, Mg and Cu doped ZnO nanoparticles were also synthesized with same production method. In both cases wurtzite phase have been maintained shows the successful doping of both metals into ZnO crystal lattice. Mg doping has increased the band gap while Cu doping has decreased. Antibacterial activity of ZnO has been enhanced in both cases.