Sustainable synthesis of cobalt and cobalt oxide nanoparticles and their catalytic and biomedical applications

Cobalt and cobalt oxide NPs are gaining diverse catalytic and biomedical applications, because of their unique antimicrobial, anticancer, catalytic, antioxidant, antifungal, and enzyme inhibition properties. Generally, various physicochemical approaches have been employed for the fabrication of these nanoparticles, but because of their considerable disadvantages such as toxicity and time consuming reactions, there is a demand for the development of safer, greener, eco-friendly, and cost-effective synthetic methods; greener tactics can eliminate the arduousness and complications of physicochemical methods. In this critical review, noteworthy recent advancements pertaining to the catalytic and biomedical applications of green-synthesized cobalt and cobalt oxide nanoparticles are highlighted along with their sustainable synthesis options.