Innovative Al2O3-ZnO-TiO2@rGO nanocomposites: A versatile approach for advanced water purification, biomedical devices, and environmental remediation

The synthesis of innovative nanocomposites (NCs) using reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Al2O3-ZnO-TiO2 (AZT) nanoparticles (NPs) was achieved through a controlled hydrothermal process, resulting in synergistic nano-materials with enhanced magnetic, anticorrosive, antimicrobial, and photocatalytic characteristics. The structure and properties of the NCs were characterized using X-ray diffraction, SEM, UV-visible, and FTIR techniques. The synergistic combination of rGO and AZT NPs shows improved magnetic, antimicrobial activity (against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria), anti-corrosive, and photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity was tested for the degradation of methylene blue dye in UV light. The NCs decompose 82.2 % of methylene blue dye in 230 min. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of NCs was tested against MS in 0.1 N HCl at room temperature and found to be 54.51 %. The induced current inside the NCs increases with the strength of the applied magnetic field. The NCs show paramagnetic character. The zone of inhibition was investigated against E. coli and S. aureus bacterial strains at different concentrations. The DFT study supported experimental data. AZT@rGO NCs have potential applications in water purification, biomedical devices, anticorrosive and environmental remediation, contributing to the advancement of nanotechnology and materials science.