The Effect of Silver Content in ZnO–Ag Nanoparticles on Their Photochemical and Antibacterial Activity

The development of new materials with antibacterial properties is a promising direction in the field of nanotechnology. In this work, ZnO–Ag nanoparticles with a silver content of 0.1–50 at % have been fabricated by the exploding wire method. ZnO–Ag nanoparticles absorb visible light and destroy the model dye Rhodamine B. The introduction of silver into nanoparticles has made it possible to shift the main absorption edge to 1.59–2.74 eV. The determined optimal content of silver in nanoparticles of 12 at % has ensured the degree of Rhodamine B decoloration by 85% within 60 min of exposure to visible light and has completely stopped the growth of E. coli bacteria at a concentration of 15.6 µg/mL. In addition, nanoparticles containing 12 at % silver have sterilized a sample of natural water contaminated with microorganisms. The results obtained offer an efficient method for the synthesis of antibacterial nanocomposites with heterojunctions employing a high-performance technique for producing nanoparticles, namely, the exploding wire method.