Silver Nanoparticles Embedded Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite with Enhanced Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Degradation Activities

Abstract

Abstract Silver nanoparticles embedded graphene oxide (Ag‐GO) nanocomposite was prepared by one pot synthesis technique. The pristine composite was analyzed via FESEM, TEM, EDX, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The nanocomposite exhibits enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial activities with improved biocompatibility. Owing to synergy, Ag‐GO composite inhibits growth and multiplication of the tested bacteria, Escherichia coli and Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus , in the first 2 h and then ceases their growth completely up to 24 h. The cell viability was found to be ∼85% for Ag‐GO doses up to 160 ppm tested with human corneal epithelial cells, which indicates the nontoxic behavior of the composite. Moreover, Ag‐GO nanocomposite exibits enhanced photocatalytic degradation properties for toxic organic dyes. The composite shows 98% degradation of rhodamine B in 24 min, 97% of methylene blue in 14 min and 99% of commercial dye‐AY in 12 min. The photocatalytic efficiency was found to be about five times higher than that of the pure GO. During the photocatalytic process the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated via surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles are responsible for the good bacterial population control as well as for the enhanced photocatalytic degradation activity. The reusability and recyclability of Ag‐GO nanocomposite suggest its commercial utilization with structural stability and good biocompatibility.