Facile Synthesis of ZnO Flower-Like Micro/nanostructures with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

Flower-like ZnO micro/nanostructures were synthesized via a simple reflux route without addition of surfactant. The characterization of as-synthesized ZnO sample was performed using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The activity of the as-synthesized photocatalyst was evaluated using colony counting method under UV irradiation. The results showed that the as-synthesized ZnO sample exhibited excellent photocatalytic disinfection towards <i>Escherichia coli</i>. A possible disinfection mechanism was also postulated based on the findings from microscopic images and radical scavenging experiments.