Synthesis of Microstructural Zn Substituted MnAl2O4 by Sol-Gel Auto-Combustion Method and Investigation of Antimicrobial Performance

Abstract

The sol-gel auto-combustion method is a known wet chemical method applied for the synthesis of composites, especially mixed metal oxides (MMOs). Herein, we report synthesis of Zn substituted MnAl₂O₄ (ZMA) by sol-gel auto-combustion method. Different compositions of ZMA by varying Zn concentration (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) were prepared and structural properties were compared. The as-synthesized materials were characterized by using X-ray powder Diffraction (XRD), field emission–scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Thermal Analysis (TGA/DTA/DSC). Further, the antimicrobial properties of the different compositions of ZMA against both lab isolated gram positive (S. aureus) and gram negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella spp.) bacteria were tested by the agar well diffusion method. The Zn ion substitution in the lattice of MnAl₂O₄ is founds to be strategic and effective method to combat bacteria. The study clearly reveals that ZMA (50%) i.e. ZnAl₂O₄·MnAl₂O₄ composition has a strong antibacterial potential.