Photo-oxygenation of water media using photoactive plasmonic nanocomposites

Abstract

Plasmonic nanocomposites ZnO–Ag and ZnO–SnO2–Ag(AgCl) were prepared by the polymer–salt method, and their structure and morphology were studied using XRD and SEM analyses. It was found that the addition of photoactive inorganic nanocomposites ZnO–Ag and ZnO–SnO2–Ag(AgCl) in pure water significantly enhances the effectiveness of its disinfection and purification during UV treatment and provides the effective water oxygenation. Oxygen photogeneration under blue light (λex. = 405 nm) can be related to the plasmon-excitation processes in ZnO–SnO2–Ag(AgCl) composites. Prepared composites demonstrate antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The increase of Ag content in ZnO–Ag and ZnO–SnO2–Ag(AgCl) composites significantly enhances their antibacterial activity.