[BMIM] PF6 ionic liquid mediated green synthesis of ceramic SrO/CeO2 nanostructure using Pedalium murex leaf extract and their antioxidant and antibacterial activities

Greener approaches of mixed oxide ceramic nanomaterial synthesis are the focus of recent developments. In this study, we report a facile and eco-friendly method with ionic liquid assisted green synthesis of ceramic SrO/CeO2 mixed oxide nanoparticles using ethanolic extraction of Pedalium murex (PM) leaf extract. An amount of 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM] PF6 ionic liquid is the mediator for the nucleation and morphology controlled growth process and plays the role of a surfactant and capping agent. Green synthesized ceramic SrO/CeO2 NPs displayed a nanorod-like structure and their crystallinity was examined by XRD studies. GC-MS spectroscopy was used to determine phytochemicals such as N-hexadecanoic acid (29%) and 6-octadecenoic acid (13%) present in the plant extract, which may act as a reducing agent for the synthesis of SrO/CeO2 NPs. The antibacterial investigation of SrO/CeO2 NPs exhibited excellent antibacterial activity compared with pristine SrO and CeO2 NPs. This antibacterial activity, when tested against strains of S. aureus and E-coli, showed that the SrO/CeO2 mixed oxide NPs were more liable for S. aureus (G(+)) than E. coli (G(-)) bacteria. Moreover, SrO/CeO2 mixed oxide NPs exhibited high antioxidant activity and reduced the DPPH free radical by up to 89%, because it produced a higher level of reactive oxygen species.