A closer look at the magnetic and optical properties of ZnFe2O4/Zn0.97Ho0.03O nanocomposite for potential use as an antimicrobial

Abstract

To combat bacterial resistance, there are not enough novel antibacterial substances currently being developed at this time. The search for novel antibiotics and their introduction into the pharmaceutical industry are very difficult tasks. Consequently, it is crucial to develop novel approaches to combat bacterial resistance and stop bacteria from becoming resistant. Although ferrites and zinc oxide are widely used in mechanical, chemical, and electrical engineering, little is known about their potential as biomaterials. The goal of this work was to synthesize a novel antibacterial composite containing ZnFe₂O₄ and ZnO doped by Ho. A vibration sample magnetometer (VSM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the produced antibacterial. The crystallite size of prepared sample is calculated to be 16.7 nm, as shown by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The images from the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) depict the samples’ morphology. The platelets in the sample are spherically formed and have a hexagonal shape. The micrograph is not consistent. VSM shows that the studied nanoparticles exhibit paramagnetic behavior. The effective magnetic moments were found to have been 0.14µ_B. The optical band gap (E_g) was measured to be 2.3 eV. Intermolecular interaction raises the refractive index of the nanocomposite, while interfacial polarizations and widening band gaps at the conductor-insulator interface are responsible for its high optical conductivity. When the nanocomposite was tested against both gram negative bacteria like K. pneumoniae and E. coli, Gram positive bacteria like S. aureus and B. subtilis as well as the fungal species C. albicans. Overall, ZnFe₂O₄/Zn_0.97Ho_0.03O nanocomposite shows that it has a strong potential for antibacterial applications in medicine.