Fabrication of a bifunctionalyzed Calotropis gigantea inspired Ag–Cu–Co trimetal oxide for the remediation of methylene blue, and its larvicidal and antibacterial applications

Abstract

A Calotropis gigantea supported Ag–Cu–Co trimetal oxide was synthesized for larvicidal, antioxidant, antibacterial and photocatalytic degradation studies. The optical and structural properties of the Ag–Cu–Co oxide were analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, FESEM-EDAX, and DLS studies, etc. The UV-vis spectra showed a maximum absorbance (λ_max) in the ranges of 225–273 and 303–380 nm. The XRD study revealed that the C. gigantea supported Ag–Cu–Co oxide has an average crystallite size in the range of 18–20 nm. The spherical morphology of the Ag–Cu–Co oxide with an average grain size in the range of 80–110 nm was observed from FESEM analysis. The hydrodynamic diameter was found to be in the range of 150–230 nm using DLS analysis. The stability of the nanocomposite was confirmed by its negative zeta potential value. The high % inhibition against DPPH was found to be 72.15% at 500 μg mL⁻¹ and the maximum zone of inhibition was found to be 25 mm against 240 μg mL⁻¹ of E. coli. The % mortality was observed to be approximately 98% against A. aegypti at 25 μg mL⁻¹. The catalyst was used to degrade methylene blue dye, with a degradation efficiency of 87.9%. Therefore, the current study proposes that the C. gigantea supported Ag–Cu–Co oxide nanoparticles have good capability for use in photocatalysis and biological applications.