Enhanced optoelectronic properties of multifunctional MnFe2O4 nanorods decorated Co3O4 nanoheterostructure: Photocatalytic activity and antibacterial behavior

The binary heterojunction MnFe2O4-Co3O4 nano-photocatalyst (NCs) was constructed by sonochemical technique. HRTEM image indicates the attachment of MnFe2O4 nanorods on Co3O4 nanostructures. UV-vis DRS showed a shift in bandgap of MnFe2O4 (1.8 eV) and Co3O4 (2.86 eV) to 2.47 eV for MnFe2O4-Co3O4 that facilitate enhanced visible light harvesting. The efficiency of MB dye degradation by MnFe2O4-Co3O4 (kinetic rate constant 0.0033 min(-1)) was boosted 3.66 times than MnFe2O4 (0.0009 min(-1)) and 4.7 times than Co3O4 (0.0007 min(-1)). The boosted photocatalytic performance of prepared NCs was supported by the high surface area of NCs (66.067 m(2)/g). The MnFe2O4-Co3O4 poses excellent recycling ability and photo-corrosive resistance and it was verified with recycled XRD and photocatalytic performance. The center dot OH and h(+) played major role in degradation of MB dye. The MnFe2O4-Co3O4 showed high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Hence, the NCs could serve as an effective candidate for photocatalytic applications including pollutant degradation and bactericidal applications.