Green and ecofriendly synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles using Phoenix dactylifera L: antimicrobial and photocatalytic activity

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles is ecofriendly, cost effective and safer than the physical and chemical methods of fabrication of nanoparticles. Phoenix dactylifera (Date palm) was used for the fabrication of Cobalt (II) oxide nanoparticles. The produced cobalt oxide nanoparticles were characterized using UV visible absorption spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, Scanning Electron Microscopy, particle size and zeta potential measurements. The UV visible absorption spectrum of the produced cobalt (II) oxide nanoparticles revealed a peak at 530 nm. SEM image showed the agglomeration of particles, which were spherical with the mean size of similar to 80 nm. The produced cobalt (II) oxide nanoparticles showed a zeta potential value of - 30.8 mV. The antimicrobial property of different concentrations of the produced cobalt oxide nanoparticles was examined. The results showed the cobalt (II) oxide nanoparticles having a good antibacterial activity against both gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli). The fabricated cobalt oxide nanoparticles also showed better antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Photocatalytic activity of the synthesized cobalt oxide nanoparticle was determined by the decreasing concentration of Congo red dye and the results showed better degradation of 92.45% after 70 min under solar radiation. Thus, the present study has revealed that the cobalt oxide nanoparticles can be synthesized using P. dactylifera seed extract in a cost effective and ecofriendly manner and can be used for photocatalytic and antimicrobial applications.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated the synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles using date palm extract, showing promising antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities. The nanoparticles were found to be cost-effective and ecofriendly, making them suitable for applications in antibacterial and photocatalytic fields.