Synthesis and characterization of Nb2CTx and Agintercalated Nb2CTx MXene for Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

MXenes are a group of two-dimensional (2D), atomically thin transition metal carbides and carbonitrides with a variety of desirable characteristics. Due to their exceptional physiochemical characteristics and ultrathin lamellar structure, MXenes have showed exceptional antibacterial capabilities. This work demonstrates the detailed procedure of the etching and delamination of MXene and the procedure for composite formation of Nb2C and Ag. The antibacterial properties of MXenes have been demonstrated by disk diffusion method which shows a zone of inhibition of 78.5mm2 in case of S. aureus and in case of E. coli it also shows zone of inhibition of 78.5mm2. This work also demonstrates the antibacterial activity of MXenes at different concentrations of Nb2C against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This study found that as we increase the concentration of MXene the antibacterial properties increase which shows its dependency on atomic structure and sheet size. 0.2 mg/ml and 0.4 mg/ml MXene exhibited the growth inhibition of 44.4% and 72% respectively for E. Coli but at this concentration we do not have good results for S. aureus. So, we increase the concentration and again done this experiment for S. aureus. 2 mg/ml and 4 mg/ml MXene exhibited the growth inhibition of 84% and 98% respectively for S. aureus. The antibacterial activity of delaminated MXene and Nb2C-Ag composite of 1:1 and 1:2 was tested. This study found that Nb2C-Ag composite could reach an antibacterial activity of 97.5% for S. aureus and 99.75% for E. coli. Silver concentration have a positive correlation with the antibacterial rate. Their primary antibacterial techniques consisted of: (1) physically severing cell membranes using nanoscale sheets; (2) using silver nanoparticles to stimulate the oxidative stress response, etc. The findings show that Nb2C-Ag exhibits great potential as an antibacterial substance.