Abstract
ZnO thin films were prepared by Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption Reaction (SILAR) method. The structural analysis of the thin films was done by X-ray diffraction. A rapid and uncontrolled multiplication of pathogenic microbes can seriously compromise health and hygienic living standards. Growing resistance of microorganisms to potent antibiotics has renewed a great interest towards investigating bactericidal properties of nano thin films. ZnO is an inorganic compound which strongly resists microorganisms. The advantage of using these oxides as antimicrobial agents is that they contain mineral elements essential to human and exhibit strong activity even when administrated in small amounts. The Cd doped ZnO sample showed maximum activity (zone of inhibition 16mm) against Salmonella typi whereas; it showed moderate activity against Streptococcus haemolyticus (zone of inhibition 13mm). Pure ZnO sample showed maximum activity against Staphylococcus aureus (zone of inhibition 14mm) like the CdZnO. In the same way, CdZnO showed maximum activity against Proteus vulgaris (zone of inhibition 17mm). Pure ZnO sample and CdZnO were showed minimum zone of inhibition against Serratia marcesens of 8.4, 10.8 respectively. The study revealed that the CdZnO showed an increased biocidal activity against the bacteria than pure ZnO. In this paper it is shown that the antibacterial activity of pure ZnO thin film is enhanced by Cd doping.
