SYNTHESIS AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ZINC OXIDE NANORODS BY SOL-GEL ROUTE

Abstract

Zinc Oxide is a promising material with extensive application in semiconducting, piezolelectric, gas sensing and most importantly in medical use, due to its unique properties. Zinc Oxide nanostructured materials, whose structural elements have dimensions in the range of 1-100 nm, exhibit unique properties compared to the bulk material due to small dimensions and large surface area relative to volume. Because biological systems operate in the nanometer size range, nanostructured materials present possibilities for unique biological interactions. Synthesis of nanostructures of Zinc Oxide can be attained by physical and chemical methods. In the present study, a novel, temperature dependant, size controllable synthesis of nanorods is achieved by a Sol Gel route. The bactericidal activity of synthesized nanorods, against Escherichia coli, Micrococcus leuteus and Bacillus subtilis is tested and found to be effective. Selectivity in toxicity is achieved by altering the capping agents, while retaining the morphology of synthesized nanorods. The synthesized nanorods were characterized by FESEM and EDAX analyses. The antibacterial activity was estimated by minimum inhibition concentration assay.