Foliar-mediated Ag:ZnO nanophotocatalysts: green synthesis, characterization, pollutants degradation, and in vitro biocidal activity

A green, biomimetic, and one-pot synthesis of silver-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Ag) nanoparticles via hydrothermal route utilizing Prunus cerasifera leaf extract has been reported for the first time. Synthetic route involved optimization for leaf extract. Doped nanoparticles were characterized for crystalline, optical, compositional, and morphological makeup via X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Direct energy bandgap was calculated through Tauc plot. The incorporation of Ag+ into Zn2+ sites within ZnO crystal was obtained using leaf extract as a reducing agent. Ag inculcated positional modifications in ZnO structure confirmed via XRD-shifted peaks. Ag:ZnO nanoparticles were found to be an efficient nanophotocatalyst against bromocresol green and bromophenol blue (R-2 =0.83 and 0.95, respectively) in direct solar irradiance. Degradation efficiencies up to 86% and 95% in less than 15 min were achieved. Furthermore, the synthesized doped nanoparticles expressed highly active to active zones of inhibition against nine microbes of pathogenic nature toward human and crops. Doped nanoparticles inhibitory activity was found to exceed standard antibiotic drugs ampicillin and amphotericin B in a standard Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion assay. Creditable photocatalytic and antimicrobial activities of synthesized doped nanoparticles signify their prospects in commercialization into nanophotocatalyst and bactericidal/fungicidal agent at industrial scale.