# A 2D nanoflower-like ordered mesoporous Bi12ZnO20 catalyst with excellent photocatalytic antibacterial properties

## TL;DR

A new 2D nanoflower-shaped photocatalyst was created that effectively kills bacteria and fungi under light, with potential uses in environmental protection.

## Contribution

A novel 2D nanoflower-like ordered mesoporous Bi12ZnO20 photocatalyst with excellent antibacterial properties was synthesized.

## Key findings

- The material achieved 100% sterilization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa within 30 minutes of light exposure.
- It showed no significant cytotoxicity and retained performance after three antibacterial cycles.
- The material effectively inhibits fungi and is applicable to real-world scenarios like treating livestock manure sewage.

## Abstract

The ordered mesoporous ZnO was successfully synthesized using the template method in this article, and Bi ions were etched into ZnO to form two-dimensional nanoflower structures of Bi12ZnO20 with NA3SSA as a guiding agent. The crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of the photocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometer(EDS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV-vis DRS). Under illumination conditions, the obtained materials exhibited excellent bactericidal ability against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as effective inhibition against fungi. Among them, the bactericidal effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be the most rapid, achieving a sterilization rate of 100% within 30 min of light irradiation. Even after three cycles of antibacterial activity testing, the Bi12ZnO20 material still demonstrated good photocatalytic performance. The nanoflower-shaped materials provide an enhanced fluid adsorption capacity and more active centers for photocatalytic reactions while also improving light absorption capacity, photogenerated electron-hole separation efficiency, and electron transport efficiency. The cytotoxicity assessment of Bi12ZnO20 revealed no significant toxic effects. Therefore, this study presents a nanoflower-shaped material with highly efficient photocatalytic antibacterial properties for applications in production and daily life; it holds significant importance in eliminating harmful bacteria and plays a crucial role in environmental protection.

The flower-shaped photocatalytic material Bi12ZnO20, consisting of nanoparticles, was successfully synthesized in this study. Rigorous antibacterial experiments were conducted on various fungi using the material, yielding excellent results. Furthermore, the application of this material for antibacterial treatment of livestock and poultry manure sewage in real-life scenarios demonstrated remarkable efficacy.