Synthesis of Fe:Ag nanocomposites and their anti-bacterial activities

Abstract

Abstract The present study reports the synthesis of Fe:Ag composite nanoparticles by green approach, utilizing Urtica dioica leaves extract, as reducing and capping agent for the metal sources. Formation of composite phases found to depend on the salt sources, which provides different ion species in the reaction mixture. The formation of crystalline nanoparticles having cubic structure was confirmed by XRD analysis. Ag rich crystalline nanoparticles were found to disperse in the oxidized Fe matrix by high resolution transmission microscopic studies. XPS analysis revealed the presence of Fe of in 0, +2, and +3 valance states and Ag in Ag+1 and Ag° states. The synthesized nanoparticles were found to show notable antibacterial activity against the gram negative pathogen E. Coli and gram positive pathogen S. aureus.