JOM, cilt.75, sa.12, ss.5331-5340, 2023 (SCI-Expanded)
Antibacterial poly(2-chloroaniline)/zinc oxide nanocomposites (PoCA/ZnO NCs) were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of 2-chloroaniline in the presence of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The colloidal method was employed to synthesize the ZnO NPs and further used to prepare the PoCA/ZnO NCs. The average particle size of ZnO NPs was determined to be around 68 nm by X-ray diffractometer using Scherer’s equation. The weight percentage of ZnO NPs to PoCA was varied to prepare the PoCA/ZnO NCs of different percentages (1–5%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the structural aspects of PoCA/ZnO NCs, and scanning electron microscopic images showed the morphological features of nanocomposites. The optical properties were evaluated by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer. The UV–visible absorption of PoCA/ZnO NCs enhanced linearly with the increase in weight percentage of ZnO NPs. Moreover, the effect of ZnO NPs weight percentage on the antibacterial efficacy of PoCA/ZnO NCs was also investigated by the disc diffusion method against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The bactericidal effect of PoCA/ZnO NCs was augmented with the increase in the weight percentage of ZnO NPs. The composites exhibited significant antibacterial inhibition zones against both gram-negative (5.1 mm) and gram-positive (5.0 mm) bacteria.