Synthesis of composite NiCo2O4 nanosheets loaded with Ag nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity

Antibiotic resistance is increasing to dangerous levels across the globe. A growing list of bacterial infections that lead to blood poisoning or foodborne diseases are becoming challenging to treat due to the loss of antibiotic efficacy. Studies on the antibacterial performance of Ag nanoparticles and other transitional metal oxides have gained increasing attention as an alternative therapeutic strategy. In this study, NiCo 2 O 4 and Ag/NiCo 2 O 4 composites with different contents of Ag were synthesized through a simple co-precipitation method. The composites were assessed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results demonstrated that the morphology of NiCo 2 O 4 was unaffected by the addition of Ag. The NiCo 2 O 4 and Ag/NiCo 2 O 4 composites with different contents of Ag showed a suitable size of approximately 10 nm. The NiCo 2 O 4 and Ag/NiCo 2 O 4 composites displayed potent activity against a range of disease-causing bacteria. The Ag/NiCo 2 O 4 composites with low Ag content displayed weak antibacterial activity.