Hydrothermally synthesized Al-doped BiVO4 as a potential antibacterial agent against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

One-pot hydrothermal route was adopted to synthesize Al:BiVO4, at 4 h and 8 h reaction durations, by adding 1% aluminiumoxide powder (w/v) to the precursors. The products were investigated using several characterization techniques that conform a significant morphological change and a decrease in bandgap energy of the materials upon Al modification of scheelite monoclinic bismuth vanadate matrix at both hydrothermal durations. Antibacterial experiments were performed against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in visible light condition to harness the photoxidation property of Al-doped BiVO4 and compare to that of unaltered BiVO4. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the synthesized materials was identified. The results indicate that Al-doping on BiVO4 has a significant effect on its photocatalytic antibacterial performance. Al:BiVO4 synthesized at 8 h hydrothermal treatment parades excellent sunlight-driven photocatalysis compared to the one synthesized at 4 h.