COMPOSITIONS INCLUDING A VACANCY-ENGINEERED (VE)-ZnO NANOCOMPOSITE, METHODS OF MAKING THE COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USING THE COMPOSITIONS

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to compositions including a vacancy-engineered (VE)-ZnO nanocomposite, methods of making a composition, methods of using a composition, and the like.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a vacancy-engineered (VE)-ZnO nanocomposite including a plurality of interconnected VE-ZnO nanoparticles, wherein the plurality of interconnected VE-ZnO nanoparticles has a plurality of surface defects associated with an oxygen vacancy, wherein at least one of:
 the VE-ZnO nanoparticles each have a diameter of other than about 3 to 8 nm; and   the VE-ZnO nanoparticles each do not include a coating of a surface capping agent having one or more Zn ion chelating functional groups.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the surface capping agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium salicylate, sodium gluconate, chitosan, silica, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl pyrrolidine, dextran, polyethelene glycol, dendrimer, and a combination thereof 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein, if present:
 the VE-ZnO nanoparticles have an average diameter of about 5 nm; and 
 the coating covers the surface of each of the VE-ZnO nanoparticles. 
 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the coating has a thickness of about 0.5 nm to 10 nm. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the VE-ZnO nanocomposite is disposed in a gel matrix
 including hydrogen peroxide. 
 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein hydrogen peroxide is about 10 to 50 weight percent of
 the VE-ZnO nanocomposite. 
 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the VE-ZnO nanocomposite is disposed in a gel matrix including hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein hydrogen peroxide is about 10 to 50 weight percent of
 the VE-ZnO nanocomposite and wherein sodium hydroxide is about 10 to 50 weight percent of the VE-ZnO nanocomposite. 
 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition has antimicrobial characteristics towards one or more species of microbial organism selected from the group consisting of:  E. coli, X alfalfae, S. aureus, X citri, E. fawcetti, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus , and  D. citri.    
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition is non-phytotoxic to ornamental vinca sp, ‘Ray Ruby’ grapefruit, ‘Pineapple’ sweet orange. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 applying a composition to a plant, wherein the composition has a vacancy-engineered (VE)-ZnO nanocomposite including a plurality of interconnected VE-ZnO nanoparticles, wherein the plurality of interconnected VE-ZnO nanoparticles has a plurality of surface defects associated with an oxygen vacancy, wherein at least one of:
 the plurality of VE-ZnO nanoparticles does not include a coating of a surface capping agent having one or more Zn ion chelating functional groups; and 
 the plurality of VE-ZnO nanoparticles does not include a size range of about 3 to about 8 nanometers; and 
 killing a substantial portion of a microorganism or inhibiting or substantially inhibiting the growth of the microorganisms on the surface or within the plant. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the microorganism is a bacterium. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the microorganism selected from the group consisting of  E. coli, B. subtilis, Xanthomonas  sp,  Candidatus Liberibacter  spp, and  S. aureus.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein applying includes application of the composition to the growth substrate in which a plant is growing. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the growth substrate is soil and delivery includes applying the composition to the soil surrounding the plant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein applying includes forming a film of the composition on the surfaces of the plant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein applying includes forming a substantially uniform plant surface coverage. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the VE-ZnO nanoparticle has a diameter of about 1 to 10 nm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the VE-ZnO nanoparticle has a plate-like structure. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making a composition, comprising:
 mixing in an aqueous solution a water soluble zinc source and an oxidizing agent; and   forming in the aqueous solution a vacancy-engineered (VE)-ZnO nanocomposite including a plurality of interconnected VE-ZnO nanoparticles, wherein each of the plurality of VE-ZnO nanoparticles has a plurality of surface defects associated with an oxygen vacancy, wherein at least one of:
 the mixing does not include a surface capping agent that has both a carbonyl group and a hydroxyl group; and 
 the forming provides the plurality of VE-ZnO nanoparticles that each has a diameter of other than about 1 to 10 nm. 
   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the oxidizing agent is about 10 to 50 weight percent of the V5E-ZnO nanocomposite. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, sodium hypochlorite and a combination thereof, and wherein the surface capping agent is selected from the group consisting of sodium salicylate, sodium gluconate, chitosan, silica, polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl pyrrolidine, dextran, polyethelene glycol, dendrimers, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . A method of making a composition comprising:
 mixing a water soluble zinc source and an oxidizing agent selected from hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, or both; and   forming a vacancy-engineered (VE)-ZnO nanocomposite including interconnected VE-ZnO nanoparticles, wherein the VE-ZnO nanoparticles have surface defects associated with oxygen vacancy.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the VE-ZnO nanoparticles have a plate-like structure. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the VE-ZnO nanoparticles have a diameter of about 1 nm to about 10 nm. 
     
     
         26 . A method for applying a treatment material to a plant comprising injecting a part of the plant with a fluid composition comprising the treatment material. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the treatment material comprises a Zinkicide material. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the part of the plant is a stem.