Photosynthesis of Multiple Valence Silver Nanoparticles on Reduced Graphene Oxide Sheets With Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

Multiple valence silver nanoparticles with irregular shape were anchored on reduced graphene oxide sheets by light irradiation. The characterization analysis revealed silver nanoparticles with different valences were uniformly attached on the surface of reduced graphene oxide sheets and mostly in the size of 30 nm. The antibacterial activities of the as-obtained nanocomposite against gram-negative bacteria E. coli and gram-positive bacteria S. aureus were investigated. Moreover, stability of the nanocomposite was measured by silver ion release. It was found that the nanocomposite has enhanced antibacterial activity and outstanding stability, which makes it a potential antibacterial agent.

Keywords:

• antibacterial activity
• graphene oxide
• green synthesis
• silver nanoparticles
• stability

Acknowledgments

The financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51202020). International S&T Cooperation Program of Changzhou City (CZ20110022), the Science and Technology Department of Jiangsu Province (BY2012099) and the Priority Academic Program Department of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions are gratefully acknowledged.