Wipsar Sunu Brams Dwandaru, Fika Fauzi, Minhati Farhana, Arina Fauza Machshuniya, Duwi Susanto, Evan Fajri Mulia Harahap, Runny Indo Saputri, Suparno
Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has strong and long-term antibacterial properties, but rGO itself has low adhesion to the surface of other materials. This research aimed to produce rGO material that has high adhesive ability by combining it with polyethylene glycol (PEG). Preparation of rGO was carried out using the microwave-modified Hummers' method. Tests were performed on rGO samples using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to determine the success of the rGO preparation. The PEG/rGO nanocomposites were synthesized by mixing 5 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, and 300 mg of rGO into 15 ml of PEG solution. The absorption spectrum of PEG/rGO showed absorption peaks at 279 nm, 278 nm, 278 nm, and 273 nm for rGO mass variations of 5 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, and 300 mg, respectively, and a shouldering peak at 250 nm for all rGO mass variation. The diffraction patterns of the PEG/rGO with rGO mass variation showed weak diffraction peaks at 2θ around 13o to 15o. As the mass of the rGO was increased, the weak diffraction peak decreased and shifted to a sharper peak around 2θ at 24o. The IR spectrum of the PEG/rGO indicated the presence of –OH, C–H, C[dbnd]O, C[dbnd]C, H–C–H, and C–O functional groups. The surface morphology of the PEG/rGO showed that the PEG had covered the surface of the rGO sheet. The surface morphology of the nanocomposites was smoother than the rGO, which composed of crumpled graphene sheet flakes that formed chunks. The results of the antibacterial test with an incubation period of 24 h showed that the PEG/rGO nanocomposites with 5 mg of rGO gave the best antibacterial effect with 11 mm and 13 mm inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria, respectively, which was included in the criteria of strong inhibition zones. © 2025 Indian Chemical Society
Physics Education Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Jl. Colombo No. 1, Karangmalang, Sleman, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia
