Synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic and bactericidal properties of Ag 3 PO 4 /NiCo-metal - organic framework composite irradiated by white light emitting diode

In this paper, Ag 3 PO 4 /NiCo-MOF composites were synthesized with different mass contents of NiCo-MOF (5, 10, and 20wt% ) from silver phosphate crystals (Ag 3 PO 4 ) and sheets of metal -organic frameworks of nickel and cobalt (NiCo-MOF). The materials were characterized, and their photocatalytic and bactericidal properties were evaluated against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E coli) incubated under exposure to white light emitting diode (WLED). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of Ag 3 PO 4 and NiCo-MOF confirm the formation of crystals without a deleterious phase. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images showed polymorphism with shape predominant to tetrahedron-like Ag 3 PO 4 microcrystals and sheets for NiCo-MOF. The materials showed band gap energy values between 2.32 eV and 3.60 eV. Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy shows the formation of molecular interaction between the materials. Bacterial susceptibility tests showed a reduction in Minimum Bactericidal concentration (MBC) values to 64 mu g/ mL when incubated with Ag 3 PO 4 under WLED exposure. The Ag 3 PO 4 /NiCoMOF-5wt% composite, incubated without light, showed MBC values of 64 mu g/mL for S. aureus and 32 mu g/mL for E. coli, respectively. Based on the results, the composite in the absence of WLED showed superior bactericidal results.