Hierarchical structure and antibacterial activity of olive oil based MZFe2O4 ferrofluids

Abstract

Abstract MZFe2O4 (Z = Zn; M = Mn) ferrofluids based on olive oil as liquid carrier was successfully prepared by coprecipitation route. The stability of the MZFe2O4 ferrofluids was maintained by using oleic acid as surfactant agent. Their morphology, crystal structure, fractal structure, and optical behaviours were investigated by means of SEM, XRD, SAXS, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, the potency as antibacterial agent of the MZFe2O4 ferrofluids was explored by dilution method. The analysis for the XRD data presented that the MZFe2O4 particles as fillers constructed in nanometric scale with cubic spinel structure. The SEM images of the MZFe2O4 powders tended to agglomerate with spherical shape. Moreover, the MZFe2O4 ferrofluids constructed complex structure with aggregated fractal originated by interaction of internal force of magnetic particles. Theoretically, such phenomenon is predicted as the effect of filler, surfactant, and liquid carrier in the ferrofluids. Interestingly, the MZFe2O4 ferrofluids demonstrated superior performance as antibacterial agent than those of MZFe2O4 nanopowders. Technically, the superior performance of the ferrofluids is believed from its significant enhancing inhibition zone diameter as the effect of olive oil as an appropriate carrier.