Synergistic effect of graphene oxide silver nanocomposite and cellulose nanofibril aerogel for enhancement of antibacterial performances

This thesis presents the approach of synthesizing silver graphene oxide cellulose nanofibril aerogel (GOAg-CNF) using a simple and environmental friendly method and investigates the antibacterial properties of the material. Graphene oxide (GO), a single layer of sp2 carbon atom has attracted the interest of world due to its alluring physicochemical properties. GO which has relatively high surface area has been used as a support material for other material especially metal material such as silver. Silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) has been used as antimicrobial agent for a decade. It is however easily aggregated and hard to produce as well as suffers from the use of dangerous reducing agent such as sodium borohydrate (NaBH4), citrate and formaldehyde that could affect human health and environment. In order to create AgNPs with less aggregation and enhanced antimicrobial activity, AgNPs is placed onto GO sheets and on cellulose nanofibril by using microwave irradiation method which is clean from the use of any reducing agent. The formation of graphene-based nanomaterial has increased the antibacterial properties of AgNPs by increasing its surface area hence creating an antibacterial material that could kill E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This results could be concluded from the inhibition zone of the bacteria and testing of real water sample. This material could hopefully could be a new solution to the water and wastewater treatment and as a replacement of antibiotic in aquaculture which could increase livestock production.