Enhancement of the Antibacterial Activity of Sb2O3 Nanoparticles byCoupling Cu2O

Background: Antibacterial drugs or antibiotics, abused in medical and agricultural fields, have caused the excess production of antibiotics in the environment. Objective: The aim of this study is to effectively enhance the antibacterial activity of Sb2O3 via inhibiting the electron-hole pairs recombination through coupling the Cu2O to solve the significant health care challenge caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Methods: The Cu2O/Sb2O3 nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. The structure, composition, and surface morphology of the as-synthesized nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The antibacterial performance of Cu2O/Sb2O3 nanocomposite was studied by the colony count method. Results: It was found that the Cu-O-Sb bonds were formed on the surface of Cu2O/Sb2O3 after the Cu2O coupling, which was supported by XPS results. Compared with pure Sb2O3, the Cu2O/Sb2O3 nanocomposite presented significantly enhanced antibacterial activity, and its antibacterial rate is greater than 99.9% against both Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This can be attributed to the fact that the electrons (e-) generated in the conduction band (CB) of Cu2O transferred into the CB of Sb2O3, which could promote the carrier separation efficiently. The possible antibacterial mechanism of Cu2O/Sb2O3 nanocomposite was put forward. Conclusion: The Cu2O/Sb2O3 nanocomposite exhibited excellent antibacterial properties, which presented the antibacterial rates of >99.9%, and might be a prospective candidate for potential applications in plastics, paint, and textile industries.