Surfactant assisted synthesis of ZnO nanostructures using atmospheric pressure microplasma electrochemical process with antibacterial applications

In this study, surfactant assisted synthesis of zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO NSs) by facile atmospheric microplasma electrochemical processes at room temperature have been reported. We have investigated the effect of ionic surfactants and nonionic fructose on the morphology of synthesized samples and their antibacterial activity against various bacterial pathogens. The samples were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. We obtained nanosheets, nanodrums and nanoneedles using different type of surfactants. XRD spectra indicated ZnO nanomaterial with hexagonal phase. The antibacterial activity of the as synthesized samples against various bacteria of clinical interests was carried out by diffusion well method. The results showed the significant antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains. Thus, ZnO nanomaterial exhibited potential application as a bacteriostatic agent in the visible light and could be developed as antibacterial agent to control and prevent the spreading of bacterial infections.