Type-II heterojunction constructed by Ag2S-coupled ZnO microspheres with visible light-responsive antibacterial activity

摘要： ZnO nanorods-assembled microspheres were photosensitized with a layer of low bandgap Ag2S nanoparticles on the branched nanorods to get a type-II core/shell heterojunction (ZnO@Ag2S). The heterojunction with unique band configuration exhibited better visible light-responsive antibacterial activity than pure ZnO, which is attributed to the inhibition of photocarrier recombination and efficient charge separation and transfer. Scavenger test confirmed that the photoinactivation of bacteria was directed by the (cid:1) radicals and photogenerated holes. The growth of Gram-negative bacteria was more effectively restrained by ZnO@Ag2S than that of Gram-positive bacteria and fungi because of structural difference of cell walls.