Study the influence of Ag+ nanoparticles on the surface of the Sr1-xAgxFeO3-δ perovskite on optical, magnetic and antibacterial properties

Abstract

Abstract Recently, we produced low cost SrFeO 3-δ perovskite with antibacterial properties. In this study to improve the antibacterial properties of SrFeO 3-δ perovskite, we doped it with silver. Ag + nanoparticles on the surface of the Sr 1-x Ag x FeO 3-δ perovskite samples were prepared by sol-gel method. Structural properties of these samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM), EDS elemental mapping and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). These techniques confirmed the presence of small amount of cubic Ag spherical nanoparticles on the surface of the cubic Sr 1-x Ag x FeO 3-δ perovskite structure. Further, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for these samples revealed the presence of Ag 1+ ions, oxygen vacancies and mixed valence states of Fe ions on the surface of the samples. The energy band gap of these samples was estimated using Kubelka–Munk equation and its value increased with increasing Ag up to x = 0.10. Additionally, Magnetic hysteresis (M − H) loops revealed that these samples displayed antiferromagnetic behavior with a small amount of ferromagnetic order. Finally, the antibacterial properties of these samples revealed that the antimicrobial activities were improved with increasing Ag (x = 0.10). Our results showed that Ag + nanoparticles on the surface of the Sr 1-x Ag x FeO 3-δ perovskite samples are a promising antimicrobial agent. Graphical Abstract