Inna Leontievna Garmasheva

Nanosized composites CeO₂–Ag, La₂O₃–Ag, and TiO₂–Ag are a class of nanomaterials suitable for photocatalysis, optical devices, and photoelectrochemical elements. Further, nanocomposites with several wt.% of silver can be used as creating materials for pathogenic virus inactivation with pandemic-neutralizing potential. Thus, CeO₂–Ag, La₂O₃–Ag, and TiO₂–Ag nanocomposites are prospective materials due to their optical and biological activity. In the present work, CeO₂–Ag, La₂O₃–Ag, and TiO₂–Ag nanocomposites were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The morphological and optical properties and the structure of the prepared nanocomposites were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDX, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption based on BET, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL). Both oxide matrixes corresponded to the cubic crystal lattice with the inclusion of argentum into the crystal lattice of oxides at relative low c(Ag) and reduction of silver on particle surface at 5 wt.% Ag and greater. The CeO₂, TiO₂, and La₂O₃ with a concentration of 4 wt.% Ag inhibited the growth processes of prokaryotic cells of E. coli, Bacillus sp., and S. aureus compared to pure oxides. Influenza A virus and herpes completely suppressed reproduction by nanocomposites of CeO₂–Ag (2, 5 wt.%) and La₂O₃–Ag (2, 5 wt.%) action.