ZnO:V nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial activities

In this study, we used sol-gel to synthesize undoped and V-ZnO nanoparticles with different vanadium concentrations (1, 3 and 5 at.%) under supercritical dry condition of ethanol. XRD spectra showed that the obtained powders are well crystallised in hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO nanoparticles. The average crystallites size, estimated by Debye-Scherer formula, was found to be equal to 31 nm for the pure sample and it was decreased to 27 nm for the 3at.% vanadium doped one. SEM and TEM photographs indicated the spherical and elongated shape of the nanoparticles. The stretching bands located at 419 cm -1 confirmed ZnO materials formation. The efficacity of the produced ZnO NPs against G + , G - bacteria and fungi was tested. Vanadium doped ZnO, with low concentrations (10 µg/ml) exhibited a large influence on bacteria and fungi growth inhibition.