Transparent ZnO-Y 2 O 3 coatings: Bactericidal effect in the lighting and in the darkness

Abstract The article presents a study of transparent bactericidal oxide coatings prepared on a glass surface by using the solutions of a polyvinylpyrrolidone and zinc and yttrium nitrates. Mixed oxide coatings were studied by spectroscopic and luminescent methods, SEM, XRD and DSC –TG analysis. Coating antibacterial activities against the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 209P and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were tested in the lighting and in the darkness. Prepared mixed oxide coatings are transparent in the visible spectral range, able to generate singlet oxygen under UV irradiation and demonstrate antibacterial effect as at the light so at the dark. It was shown that the transparency of the coating materials in the UV spectral range increases with the ZnO content reduction in mixed oxide coatings. Mixed oxide coating containing about 90% of zinc oxide demonstrates the highest bactericidal properties.