Impact of laser energy on the synthesis and antibacterial performance of CdO nanomaterials

The objective of the current work is to evaluate the antibacterial efficiency of cadmium oxide nanomaterials (CdO NPs) produced through pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) with laser energy ranging from 400 to 600 mJ. Several characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were harnessed to analyze synthesized CdO NPs. The nanoparticles had a spherical shape and a size distribution that reduced with higher laser energy. The XRD study confirmed a polycrystalline cubic structure, while AFM measurements disclosed a drop from 133 to 84 nm in the particle size as laser intensity rose. UV-Vis spectra revealed that intensified laser energy caused a narrowing of the bandgap, which was measured from 2.6 eV at 400 mJ to 2.38 eV at 600 mJ. CdO NPs' antibacterial activity has been determined against Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Escherichia coli (EC) using the colony counting method. The results indicated a considerable reduction in bacterial colonies, with E. coli demonstrating more susceptibility than S. aureus. The findings indicate that PLAL-produced CdO NPs have high antibacterial characteristics, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications, particularly antibacterial coatings and therapies.