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Implications of Chemical Reduction Using Hydriodic Acid on the Antimicrobial Properties of Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene Oxide Membranes
Author(s) -
Alayande Abayomi Babatunde,
Park HeeDeung,
Vrouwenvelder Johannes S.,
Kim In S.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201901023
Subject(s) - graphene , membrane , oxide , antimicrobial , bacterial cellulose , cellulose , materials science , chemical engineering , chemistry , nanotechnology , organic chemistry , biochemistry , engineering
The antimicrobial properties of graphene‐based membranes such as single‐layer graphene oxide (GO) and modified graphene oxide (rGO) on top of cellulose ester membrane are reported in this study. rGO membranes are made from GO by hydriodic acid (HI) vapor treatment. The antibacterial properties are tested after 3 h contact time with selected model bacteria. Complete bacterial cell inactivation is found only after contact with rGO membranes, while no significant bacterial inactivation is found for the control i) GO membrane, ii) the mixed cellulose ester support, and the iii) rGO membrane after additional washing that removes the remaining HI. This indicates that the antimicrobial effect is neither caused by the graphene nor the membrane support. The antimicrobial effect is found to be conclusively linked to the HI eliminating microbial growth, at concentrations from 0.005%. These findings emphasize the importance of caution in the reporting of antimicrobial properties of graphene‐based surfaces.