The development of sustainable antifouling technologies is critical for reducing environmental impact while maintaining maritime efficiency. This study focuses on enhancing the photocatalytic inactivation of marine microorganisms by engineering silver quantum dots (AgQDs) supported on zinc oxide (ZnO) with precise control over nanoparticle size. The core innovation lies in leveraging the size-dependent catalytic activity of AgQDs to maximize hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production under UV irradiation in natural seawater. Experimental results show that AgQDs approximately 4 nm in diameter exhibit peak performance, generating a concentration of 124 μg/mL H₂O₂ within one hour—over five times higher than pure ZnO. This significant increase in H₂O₂ yield directly correlates with enhanced antibacterial activity, achieving a sterilization rate of 99.NUP98 Antibody supplier 4% compared to 72.3% for unmodified ZnO. Mechanistic investigations using radical scavengers confirmed that hydroxyl radicals (•OH), derived from H₂O₂ decomposition, are the primary agents responsible for microbial inactivation. Transient photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses revealed superior charge separation and faster electron transfer in the 200AgQDs/ZnO sample, indicating improved photocatalytic efficiency. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) confirmed the successful integration of AgQDs onto ZnO without altering the crystal structure, while energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping verified uniform elemental distribution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) further demonstrated the presence of metallic Ag⁰, suggesting effective reduction during synthesis. The Mott-Schottky analysis showed a slight negative shift in the conduction band potential, which facilitates the two-electron reduction of oxygen to H₂O₂. Notably, the system operates effectively in real seawater without requiring additional chemical additives, highlighting its practical applicability.Fascin Antibody Protocol The synergistic effect between ZnO and size-optimized AgQDs enhances both the generation of reactive oxygen species and the stability of the photocatalyst, minimizing photodegradation.PMID:34978753 These findings establish a clear design principle: optimizing the geometric size of noble metal quantum dots can dramatically improve the efficiency of photocatalytic H₂O₂ synthesis in marine environments. This approach offers a promising route toward next-generation, non-toxic, self-cleaning coatings for ship hulls, contributing to cleaner oceans and more sustainable shipping practices.MedChemExpress (MCE) offers a wide range of high-quality research chemicals and biochemicals (novel life-science reagents, reference compounds and natural compounds) for scientific use. We have professionally experienced and friendly staff to meet your needs. We are a competent and trustworthy partner for your research and scientific projects.Related websites: https://www.medchemexpress.com