Evaluation of the alkyl chain length and photocatalytic antibacterial performance of cation

Several cation graphite carbon nitrides ( g-C 3 N 4 -(CH 2 ) n -ImI + ) were synthesized by chemically attaching imidazolium appended alkane chains with different lengths ( n = 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16) to g-C 3 N 4 . The introduction of a cation segment potentially improved the interaction between the carbon material and Gram negative (MDR- A . baumannii ) and Gram positive ( S. aureus ) bacteria as characterized by ζ potential measurement. Short alkane chain (carbon numbers of 2, 4 and 8) carbon materials displayed relatively stronger bacterial interactions compared to long alkane chain bearing ones ( n = 12 and 16). In addition, short chain carbon materials ( g-C 3 N 4 -(CH 2 ) 4 -ImI + ) displayed relatively higher photocatalytic reactive oxygen species ( 1 O 2 , &z.rad;O 2 − and &z.rad;OH) production efficiency. Bacterial interaction and ROS production efficiency synergistically contribute to photocatalytic antibacterial performance. The current data revealed that g-C 3 N 4 with short flexible cations attached exhibited bacterial interaction and ROS production. Among these synthesized materials, g-C 3 N 4 -(CH 2 ) 4 -ImI + exhibited the most pronounced photocatalytic antibacterial efficiency (>99%). Length of alkane chain that connects imidazolium and g-C 3 N 4 significant influences the photo-assisted antibacterial efficacy. Length of 4 carbon alkane chain-imidazolium decorated g-C 3 N 4 shows most pronounced performance.