Synthesis of quasi-hexagonal Ag/NiCo2O4 nanosheets and their photocatalytic and antibacterial properties.

The precursors of NiCo2O4 and Ag/NiCo2O4 composite nanosheets with different Ag contents were prepared via a hydrothermal procedure. The final NiCo2O4 and Ag/NiCo2O4 quasi-hexagonal nanosheets with different Ag contents were prepared by calcining each precursor. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The photocatalytic performance of the resultant samples was investigated with assistance of H2O2 under irradiation of visible light by using p-nitrophenol and methyl blue as pollutant target, respectively. The results revealed that the photocatalytic activity of Ag/NiCo2O4 nanosheets increased with increasing Ag content from 0 to 5%, and the Ag/NiCo2O4 composite with 4 and 5% all exhibited higher catalytic activity for degrading p-nitrophenol and methyl blue, respectively. The antibacterial activity of NiCo2O4 and composite Ag/NiCo2O4 nanosheets to several common gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was examined. The results demonstrated that the Ag/NiCo2O4 composites displayed excellent activity even with a low Ag content, but NiCo2O4 exhibited weak antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]