Mechanism of Antibacterial Activity via Morphology Change of α-AgVO3: Theoretical and Experimental Insights

The electronic configuration, morphology, optical features, and antibacterial activity of metastable α-AgVO3 crystals have been discussed by a conciliation and association of the results acquired by experimental procedures and first-principles calculations. The α-AgVO3 powders were synthesized using a coprecipitation method at 10, 20, and 30 °C. By using a Wulff construction for all relevant low-index surfaces [(100), (010), (001), (110), (011), (101), and (111)], the fine-tuning of the desired morphologies can be achieved by controlling the values of the surface energies, thereby lending a microscopic understanding to the experimental results. The as-synthesized α-AgVO3 crystals display a …