Investigations of Ag-ZnO nanosheets for improved photocatalytic performance and antimicrobial activity

ZnO is promising material for environmental remediation technology. To tune the material properties, Ag was added into the ZnO lattice. Herein, we report the hydrothermal synthesis of Ag-ZnO for its profound photocatalytic and antimicrobial action. The material was characterized with XRD, FESEM, EDX, and FTIR for the study of its crystal structure, morphology, elemental composition, and the availability of functional groups on the surface of the material, respectively. The optical characteristics of Ag-ZnO were investigated using UV–Visible spectroscopy and PL spectroscopy. Efficient photocatalytic degradation was performed by methylene blue. The photocatalytic MB removal was investigated over different pH values, followed by its cyclic stability. Further the material was tested for its antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity was reported for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), B. subtilis, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. thyphi, A. flavus, and A. niger. The outcomes suggest that Ag-ZnO can be used for large-scale disinfecting purposes.