Comparative Study of the Structural, Optical and Antibacterial Properties of CaO/ rGO- CaO Nanocomposites
Rekha S
Department of Physics, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, Kerala, 68011, India and Women’s Polytechnic College, Ernakulam, Kerala, 683104, India.
Sreeja V G *
Department of Physics, St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam, Kerala, 68011, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Recently, graphene-based materials decorated with metal/metal oxide nanoparticles have gained great interest among researchers owing to their wide range of technological applications. Herein, we have synthesised reduced graphene oxide-calcium oxide nanocomposites (rGO-CaO) by a wet chemical route using a simple one-pot synthesis technique. Graphene oxide was synthesised via modified Hummer’s method and CaO nanoparticles were synthesised using a wet chemical method. Multi-characterisation techniques like X-ray diffractometry (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and UV-visible spectroscopy were employed to compare the structural and optical properties of CaO and rGO-CaO nanocomposites. Morphological examination revealed the growth of CaO nanoparticles onto the surface of rGO sheets. PL emission intensity of rGO-CaO nanocomposites was found to be greater than that of pure CaO nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of the prepared samples was compared using Gram-negative E. coli bacteria.
Keywords: Metal oxide nanoparticles, reduced graphene oxide, X-ray diffraction, antibacterial property