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Antibacterial activities of sol–gel derived ZnO-multilayered thin films: p-NiO heterojunction layer effect

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Abstract

Sol–gel dip coating method has been employed for the deposition of nanostructured single nickel oxide (NiO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) films and multilayered NiO/ZnO/NiO and ZnO/NiO/ZnO films. The structural, morphology and optical properties of prepared films were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV–vis spectroscopy, respectively. XRD analysis showed that ZnO-based films crystallized in write phase and presented an epitaxial orientation depending on the substrate. SEM images also showed uniform size distribution around 30–70 nm for all samples. Antibacterial effectiveness of NiO and ZnO- based films were tested against general Escherichia coli (E. coli ATCC 25922) and Streptococcus aureus (S. aureus, ATCC 29213) as Gram negative and Gram positive model, respectively, using the so-called drop-test method under UV light illumination and dark conditions. ZnO/NiO/ZnO film was found to be the most toxic among tested samples, followed by ZnO, NiO/ZnO/NiO and NiO films. Samples exposure to UV light resulted in higher activity compared to dark conditions against both E. coli and S. aureus, but considerably more effective in the former case. The obtained results were discussed according to the lattice matching between the heteroepitaxial films and structural modification as key roles on the preferential growth orientation and antibacterial activity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support from the Islamic Azad University, Shahreza Branch and Falavarjan Branch.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Science Faculty, Shahreza Branch, Razi Chemistry Research Centre, Islamic Azad University, 86145-311, Shahreza, Isfahan, Iran

    Nasrin Talebian

  2. Department of Microbiology, Falavarjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, 84515-155, Falavarjan, Isfahan, Iran

    Monir Doudi & Homa Mogoei

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  1. Nasrin Talebian
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Talebian, N., Doudi, M. & Mogoei, H. Antibacterial activities of sol–gel derived ZnO-multilayered thin films: p-NiO heterojunction layer effect. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 74, 650–660 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-015-3644-1

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