Green Production of Functionalized Few-Layer Graphene-Silver Nanocomposites Using Gallnut Extract for Antibacterial...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Functionalized few-layer graphene (FFG) is gaining attention for diverse biomedical applications.
• Efficient and sustainable production methods for FFG are crucial for its widespread adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient, economical, and eco-friendly method for producing FFG and Ag-FFG.
• To characterize the synthesized FFG and Ag-FFG materials.
• To evaluate the antibacterial activity of the Ag-FFG composite.

Main Methods:

• High-shear exfoliation of expanded graphite using gallnut extract (GNE).
• Optimization of GNE concentration, graphite concentration, exfoliation time, and mixer rotation speed.
• Characterization using Raman spectroscopy, XRD, XPS, TEM, and SEM.
• Confirmation of Ag conjugation using XRD, XPS, and EDX.
• Agar well diffusion assay to assess antibacterial activity.

Main Results:

• Optimized conditions yielded efficient production of FFG.
• Characterization confirmed the successful synthesis and functionalization of FFG and Ag-FFG.
• Ag-FFG composite demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Conclusions:

• Gallnut extract facilitates an efficient, economical, and eco-friendly method for FFG and Ag-FFG production.
• The synthesized Ag-FFG composite shows promise for biomedical applications due to its antibacterial properties.