Optical analysis and its impact on antibacterial performance of Mg0.97Fe0.03O nanoparticles

Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles doped with iron (Fe), specifically Mg₀.₉₇Fe₀.₀₃O, were synthesized using the sol-gel method and evaluated for their structural, optical, and antibacterial properties. FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of Mg-O and Fe-O bonds, with distinct absorption peaks at 420.48, 466.77, and 3429.43 cm⁻¹, corresponding to metal-oxygen bonds and surface hydroxyl groups. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a reduction in bandgap energy to 3.32 eV, indicating that Fe doping effectively tailors the optical properties of MgO nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of Mg₀.₉₇Fe₀.₀₃O nanoparticles was tested against Escherichia coli using the agar well diffusion method, yielding a significant zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 20 mm. The observed enhancement in antibacterial activity is attributed to Fe-doping-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which damages bacterial membranes and disrupts cellular processes. These findings demonstrate that Mg₀.₉₇Fe₀.₀₃O nanoparticles are promising candidates for applications in antimicrobial coatings and biomedicine, where multifunctional properties are highly desirable.