Fabrication of highly and poorly oxidized silver oxide/silver/tin(IV) oxide nanocomposites and their comparative anti-pathogenic properties towards hazardous food pathogens.

Herein, we report the fabrication of highly oxidized silver oxide/silver/tin(IV) oxide (HOSBTO or Ag-enriched AgO/Ag/SnO) nanocomposite under a robust oxidative environment created with the use of concentrated nitric acid. Tin(IV) hydroxide nanofluid is added to the reaction mixture as a stabilizer for the Ag-enriched silver oxide in the nanocomposite. The formation of Ag nanoparticles in this nanocomposite originates from the decomposition of silver oxides during calcination at 600 °C.