Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/88629
Title: Ag/ZnO/PMMA nanocomposites for efficient water reuse
Authors: Mauro, Alessandro Di
Farrugia, Clayton
Abela, Stephen
Refalo, Paul
Grech, Maurice
Falqui, Luciano
Nicotra, Giuseppe
Sfuncia, Gianfranco
Mio, Antonio
Buccheri, Maria Antonietta
Rappazzo, Giancarlo
Brundo, Maria Violetta
Scalisi, Elena Maria
Pecoraro, Roberta
Iaria, Carmelo
Privitera, Vittorio
Impellizzeri, Giuliana
Keywords: Silver
Polymer engineering
Low temperature engineering
Photocatalysis
Water
Issue Date: 2020
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Citation: Di Mauro, A., Farrugia, C., Abela, S., Refalo, P., Grech, M., Falqui, L., ... & Impellizzeri, G. (2020). Ag/ZnO/PMMA nanocomposites for efficient water reuse. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 3(7), 4417-4426.
Abstract: This work attempts to produce photocatalytic surfaces for large-scale applications by depositing nanostructured coatings on polymeric substrates. ZnO/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites were prepared by low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZnO on PMMA substrates. In addition, to increase the photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of ZnO films, Ag nanoparticles were added on ZnO surfaces using plasma-enhanced ALD. The morphology, crystallinity, and chemical composition of the specimens were meticulously examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopies, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analyses. The noteworthy photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites was proved by the degradation of the following organic pollutants in aqueous solution: methylene blue, paracetamol, and sodium lauryl sulfate. The antibacterial properties of the samples were tested using Escherichia coli as a model organism. Moreover, the possible toxic effects of the specimens were checked by biological tests. The present results unambiguously indicate the Ag/ZnO/PMMA nanocomposite as a powerful tool for an advanced wastewater treatment technology.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/88629
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacEngIME

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