Synthesis of ZnO coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes and their antibacterial activities

ZnO coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (ZnO/MWCNTs) were prepared and evaluated for their application potentials as an antimicrobial material for simultaneous concentrating and inactivating pathogenic bacteria. X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) were used to characterize the ZnO/MWCNTs. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was employed as the target bacterium. Comparing with the raw and the purified MWCNTs (r-MWCNTs and p-MWCNTs), which have been reported to possess antibacterial activity towards E. coli, ZnO/MWCNTs exhibited stronger antibacterial ability. The deposited ZnO was suggested to play an important role in the bactericidal action of ZnO/MWCNTs, while, the r-MWCNTs and p-MWCNTs served as more like adsorbing materials for E. coli.

► ZnO/MWCNTs were prepared and characterized.
► ZnO/MWCNTs were evaluated for the application potential as disinfection material.
► ZnO/MWCNTs exhibited strong antibacterial ability towards E. coli.
► ZnO seems to play an important role in the bactericidal action of ZnO/MWCNTs.
► MWCNTs served as more like adsorbing materials for E. coli.