Synthesis, electron microscopy and anti-microbial properties of Fe3O4–Ag nanotubes

Abstract

Electrodeposition was used for synthesizing 200 nm diameter Fe₃O₄–Ag nanotubes. Compositional analysis at the single nanotube level revealed a fairly uniform distribution of component elements in the nanotube microstructure. As-synthesized Fe₃O₄–Ag nanotubes were superparamagnetic in nature. Electron diffraction revealed the ultrafine nanocrystalline microstructure of the nanotubes. The effect of Ag on the anti-microbial response of the nanotubes was investigated by comparing the effect of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) on Fe₃O₄–Ag and Fe₃O₄ nanotubes. Fe₃O₄ nanotubes were also electrodeposited in the present study. It was observed that the Fe₃O₄–Ag nanotubes exhibited good resistance to sulphate reducing bacteria which revealed the anti-microbial nature of the Fe₃O₄–Ag nanotubes.