Photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of ZnO powders prepared via sol-gel method

Abstract

We report on synthesis of ZnO powders via sol-gel method. The prepared powders were calcined at the temperature of 300, 500 and 700°C for 1 h with the heating rate of 10°C/min. The microstructures of the fabricated powders were characterized by SEM and XRD techniques, and the results show that all samples were the agglomeration and spherical shape and reveal only the wurtzite phase. The photocatalytic activities of the powders were also tested via the degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution under UV irradiation. Finally, antibacterial activity efficiency was evaluated by the inactivation of E. coli. It was observed that higher calcined at the temperature gives better photocatalytic and antibacterial activity. With the highest calcined at the temperature investigated in this experiment (T700 condition) the powders show photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of 80.06 and 99.00%, respectively.

Keywords

• Photocatalytic activity
• Antibacterial activity
• ZnO powders
• E. coil
• Sol-gel method