Zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide formation via aqueous precipitation: Effect of the preparation route and lysozyme addition

Abstract

Aqueous precipitation products of Zn(NO3)2 and NaOH obtained by changing the method of combining the reactants and by using lysozyme as an additive were investigated. In the case of single addition method, octahedral ε-Zn(OH)2 and plate-like β-Zn(OH)2 structures formed in the absence and in the presence of lysozyme, respectively. Calcination of these Zn(OH)2 samples at 700 °C yielded porous ZnO structures by conserving the template crystals. When zinc source was added dropwise into NaOH solution, predominantly clover-like ZnO crystals were obtained independent of lysozyme addition. Mixed spherical and elongated ZnO morphology was observed when NaOH was added dropwise into Zn(NO3)2 solution containing lysozyme. Lysozyme contents of the precipitation products were estimated as in the range of ∼5-20% and FTIR indicated no significant conformational change of lysozyme in the composite. These results suggest that lysozyme-ZnO/Zn(OH)2 composite materials may have a value as an antibacterial material.