Green synthesis, characterization of Ag2O/CuO/ZnO nano composites using aqueous extract of Croton macrostachyus leaf for Photo degradation, anti-microbial and antioxidant activities

The current study focused on the phyto-mediated synthesis of ZnO, CuO, and Ag2O nanoparticles and their ternary nanocomposites via aqueous Croton macrostachyus leaf extract using the precursors Zn(CH3COO)(2)center dot 2H(2)O, Ag2SO4, and Cu (NO3)(2)center dot 3H(2)O, respectively without any fuel. An effective method for eliminating organic contaminants from wastewater is photo degradation. SEM, EDX, TEM, HRTEM, SAED,PXRD, XPS, FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy and FTIR confirmed the presence of secondary metabolites in the extract, which were responsible for reducing Ag+ to Ag-0, ZnO2+ to Zn-0, and CuO2+ to Cu-0, which are characteristic of Ag-O, Zn-O, and Cu-O. A vibration band was observed at 447.19, 432.32, and 431.73 cm(-1) respectively, and for their ternary 429.93 cm(-1) Ag2O/CuO/ZnO (1:2:7) and 430.74 cm(-1) Ag2O/CuO/ZnO (1:1:1) nanocomposites. The crystalline size of nanocomposites was calculated using the Debye-Scherrer equation at 2.71nm and 2.35nm for ternary nanocomposites. Their photocatalytic, anti-microbial and anti-oxidant activities were evaluated. The ternary ZnO nanocomposites showed that methylene blue dye was degraded efficiently in 60 min under sunlight irradiation. The enhanced degradation efficiencies were observed for ternary nanocomposites with 96% scavenging of DDPH free radicals. Additionally, Ag2O/CuO/ZnO nanocomposites and their metal oxide nanoparticles exhibited potent antioxidant activity against DDPH radicals.