Photodeposited Surface Ag on ZnO Nanocrystals and the Optical, Electrical, Photocatalytic, and Bactericidal Properties

Nanocrystalline Ag-ZnO (0.5 at %), prepared by photoreduction, has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron micrograph, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The doped oxide exhibits surface plasmon resonance and sharp band gap absorption. Doping suppresses the green emission and increases the charge transfer resistance. While doping improves the bactericidal activity of ZnO in absence of direct light, the photocatalytic activity is suppressed; the Ag-ZnO nanoparticles agglomerate in dye solution.