Deposition and characterization of ZnO:Mg thin films: the study of antibacterial properties

Abstract

ZnO:Mg thin films with different amounts of Mg were deposited on a glass substrate using the<br><br>spray pyrolysis technique. The structural, optical and antibacterial properties of the<br><br>films were studied as a function of the dopant concentration. The ZnO:Mg films were<br><br>characterized using methods such as x-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy,<br><br>scanning tunneling microscopy and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The samples display hexagonal<br><br>wurtzite structure, with no secondary phase. Morphological studies indicated the deposition of<br><br>a uniform film, and particle size decreases with Mg doping. Optical studies revealed that the<br><br>optical band gap and optical transmittance increase with Mg concentration. The antibacterial<br><br>activities of the samples against Escherichia coli (gram-negative) cultures were tested by the<br><br>drop test method, which shows that Mg doping increases antibacterial activities of thin films.