Synthesis and Characterization of Silver ferrite delafossite/MXene Nanocomposite for Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

The development of improved antimicrobial materials is imperative due to the growing threat posed to global health by antibiotic-resistant bacterial diseases. In order to improve antibacterial capabilities through a synergistic mechanism, this study presents a novel MXene/AgFeO₂ composite. MXenes are a novel class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides that possess special characteristics such enormous surface area, variable surface chemistry, and high conductivity. Our objective is to produce a composite with enhanced bactericidal performance by combining MXene with silver ferrite (AgFeO₂), which is widely recognised for its strong antibacterial properties. An inventive physical mixing technique was used to create the MXene/AgFeO₂ composite, guaranteeing a uniform dispersion of AgFeO₂ nanoparticles on the MXene nanosheets. To verify the effective synthesis and structural integrity of the composite, advanced characterisation techniques were used, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Using quantitative antibacterial assays, antibacterial efficiency was thoroughly assessed against strains of both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. According to our research, the MXene/AgFeO₂ composite greatly outperforms the individual components and has antibacterial activity never seen before. The combined impacts of AgFeO₂'s potent antibacterial activities and MXene's superior electron transfer capabilities are responsible for this outstanding performance. Additionally, the composite showed great stability, highlighting its potential for a wide range of biomedical applications. To sum up, the MXene/AgFeO₂ combination offers a fresh strategy for fighting bacterial infections and constitutes a revolutionary development in antimicrobial material science. Future investigations that focus on refining synthesis settings, clarifying the fundamental antibacterial mechanisms, and investigating useful applications in wound dressings, medical devices, and antimicrobial coatings are made possible by this work.