SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MICRO- AND NANOCRYSTALLINE IRON-DOPED ZINC OXIDE AS A PLATFORM FOR INVESTIGATION OF ANTIBACTERIAL MECHANISMS
McHenry, Tiffany
McHenry, Tiffany
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2025-05-19
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Abstract
Iron-doped zinc oxide (Fe:ZnO) is a multifunctional material with applications in luminescent devices, catalysis, spintronics, and gas sensors. Specifically, iron-doped zinc oxide (FeZnO) combines magnetic and chemical stability properties, making it suitable for technological and environmental applications. This study explores how synthesis parameters, specically pH and dopant concentration, influence the morphology and properties of FeZnO micro- and nanoparticles. Hydrothermal synthesis was employed to prepare Fe:ZnO with doping concentrations ranging between one and ten percent. Morphological and compositional analyses were performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). We also observed ZnO antibacterial action for some of the synthesized samples in Staphylococcus Aureus cultures. Future work will focus on improving dopant distribution, exploring antibacterial activity, and leveraging computational tools to refine material design for specific applications.