Preparation of stable Fe2O3/Ag nanocomposite particles with catalytic, antioxidant and antibacterial properties

Abstract

Nanomaterials have demonstrated a wide range of applications and amongst nanomaterials, most of the research has mainly focused on nanoparticles as they can be easily prepared and manipulated. The magnetic properties of certain magnetic nanoparticles have attracted a lot of interest in environmental applications. However, because of their great vulnerability to chemical and physical activity, their magnetic characteristics deteriorate. These nanoparticles are being progressively attempted to be encapsulated by a green organic matrix, which greatly improves usefulness, stability, and affordability, and reduces back toxicity. In this investigation, iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles were prepared by a co-precipitation method and these bear IO particles were stabilized by green synthesized silver nanoparticles to produce IO/Ag nanocomposite particles. The nano size of the prepared particles was confirmed by FE-SEM and TEM analysis. Incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on IO particles was confirmed by UV-Vis, XRD, TGA, and VSM. The improved stability of the magnetic particles was confirmed by DLS and zeta potential. Using the reducing agent NaBH₄, the catalytic reduction ability of the IO/Ag nanocomposite particles is investigated in relation to the degradation of Congo Red, a model anionic azo dye. When 40 μg mL⁻¹ of IO/Ag particles were used, complete degradation of 20 mL of CR (0.1 mM) dye solution was accomplished in 2 minutes. The particles also demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity against four pathogens and good DPPH free radical scavenging activity, with 94% scavenging recorded at a concentration of 100 μg mL⁻¹ particles.