Ag-doped CuO nanoparticles embedded reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite from Punica granatum peel extract and evaluation of their photocatalytic activity and antimicrobial potential

The present study explored Muntingia calabura leaf extract as a reducing and capping agent for synthesis of Agdoped CuO nanoparticles embedded reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite. The crystalline nature of the Ag doped CuO/rGO was identified utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The surface morphology of Ag doped CuO/rGO was investigated by Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. The surface elemental composition of the prepared material was investigated by the Energy dispersive spectra (EDS) analysis. Ag resulted in enhanced absorbance in the visible range as well as a reduction in band gap energy. The catalytic activity of the green synthesized Ag doped CuO/rGO photocataltyst was evaluated in the reduction of organic pollutants such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and methylene blue (MB) in water at mild conditions. The results indicated that the biosynthesized Ag-CuO/rGO composites have very high and effective catalytic activity over MB dye (99.5 %), high rate constant (0.9871 min -1) and long term stability with 60 min irradiation of UV light. In addition, initial process parameters of catalyst dosage and MB concentration, and pH of the solution were also examined. Differential antimicrobial effects of doped and undoped CuO nanoparticles (NPs) against selected strains of bacteria and fungi were confirmed.