Title: Characterisation and biological activity of rare-earth ion (Ce³⁺)-doped ZnO nanoparticles

Authors: Maryam Al Bitar; Mahmoud Khalil; R. Awad

Addresses: Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, 1107 2809, Lebanon ' Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, 1107 2809, Lebanon; Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Molecular Biology Unit, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21568, Egypt ' Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, 1107 2809, Lebanon

Abstract: Zn_1-xCe_xO nanoparticles with x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.07 were synthesised using a chemical co-precipitation method. The effects of Ce³⁺doping on the properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were studied. The prepared nanoparticles were characterised by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), UV-visible spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. The CeO₂secondary phase induced structural and morphological changes. The Zn-O stretching peak shifted slightly due to the inclusion of Ce³⁺ ions into the ZnO matrix. PL spectroscopy revealed minor defects and a direct bandgap of 2.81-3.15 eV. The samples exhibited diamagnetic behaviour with a ferromagnetic contribution at room temperature. The prepared samples were assessed for their antibacterial efficiency against six bacterial strains using the agar well diffusion method.

Keywords: zinc oxide nanoparticles; cerium-doping; co-precipitation technique; biological activity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2023.135768

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2023 Vol.15 No.1, pp.41 - 67

Received: 18 Mar 2022
Accepted: 21 Oct 2022
Published online: 04 Jan 2024 *

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