A novel zinc oxide–zirconium (IV) phosphate nanocomposite as antibacterial material with enhanced ion exchange properties

•Zinc oxide–zirconium (IV) phosphate (ZnO–ZrP) nanocomposite was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal analysis (TGA/DTA/DSC). the synthesized particles are of core-shell type, with core having a diameter of 70 ± 10 nm whereas the shell having a diameter of 10 ± 3 nm. The ion exchanger ZrP is amorphous in nature, but with addition of ZnO nanoparticles, the matrix assumes crystalline nature. The nanocomposite ion exchanger showed an enhanced ion-exchange capacity of 0.60 meq/g for Na+ ions. The nanocomposite displayed antibacterial activity towards the Gram negative E. coli culture

Zinc oxide–zirconium (IV) phosphate (ZnOZrP) nanocomposite was synthesized by sol gel method at pH ≈ 2. It was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermal analysis (TGA/DTA/DSC). The nanocomposite was also explored for different properties such as ion exchange capacity, membrane potential, transport number, permselectivity, and fixed charge density. The nanocomposite ion exchanger showed an ion-exchange capacity of 0.60 meq/g for Na+ ions. The effect of addition of ZnO nanoparticles on the properties of zirconium (IV) phosphate ion-exchange membrane has been studied. The membrane was characterized at different electrolyte concentrations. Interestingly, the nanocomposite also displayed some antibacterial activity towards the Gram negative E. coli culture.