Photo-oxygenation of water media using photoactive plasmonic nanocomposites

Plasmonic nanocomposites ZnO-Ag and ZnO-SnO₂-Ag(AgCl) were prepared by the polymer-salt method, and their structure and morphology were studied using XRD and SEM analyses. It was found that the addition of photoactive inorganic nanocomposites ZnO-Ag and ZnO-SnO₂-Ag(AgCl) in pure water significantly enhances the effectiveness of its disinfection and purification during UV treatment and provides the effective water oxygenation. Oxygen photogeneration under blue light (λ_ex. = 405 nm) can be related to the plasmon-excitation processes in ZnO-SnO₂-Ag(AgCl) composites. Prepared composites demonstrate antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The increase of Ag content in ZnO-Ag and ZnO-SnO₂-Ag(AgCl) composites significantly enhances their antibacterial activity.