Highly fluorescent and antimicrobial polyfuran based nanocomposites

In this study, the effects of p-type zirconium (IV) oxide (ZrO2) and n-type cobalt(II, III) oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles on the structural, physical and antibacterial properties of polyfuran (PFU) were investigated. PFU synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization method showed a semi-crystalline feature different from its characteristic amorphous nature. The nanometal-oxide filling process increased the degree of crystallinity of PFU from 34 % to 52 % and the inflection point temperature from 616 degrees C to 685 degrees C. Interaction between nanoparticles and polymer chains slightly reduced the particle size of PFU matrix. While diamagnetic ZrO2 nanoparticles increased the fluorescence quantum yield of PFU, paramagnetic Co3O4 nanoparticles reduced it. Alternating current (ac) conductivity measurements have shown that filling process increased the electrical conductivity of PFU. Nanoparticles increased the inhibition zone diameter of PFU against Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria up to about 7 mm. The results showed that PFU/ZrO2 and PFU/Co3O4 nanocomposites are highly suitable materials for low-cost photoelectric and antimicrobial applications.