Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles offer distinct optical, physical, and antimicrobial properties driven by a high surface-to-volume ratio, significantly enhancing chemical reactivity compared to bulk materials.
Key Properties
- Optical & Physical: Features a wide bandgap (3.37 eV) and high exciton binding energy, making it a highly efficient UV absorber (UVA/UVB).
- Piezoelectricity: A non-centrosymmetric structure enables the fabrication of sensitive electromagnetic actuators and sensors.
- Antimicrobial: Inhibits microbial growth by penetrating cell walls and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) via photocatalysis.
- Biocompatibility: FDA-recognized as safe (21 CFR 182.8991) at low concentrations.