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Dual-Functional Green Facile CuO/MgO Nanosheets Composite as an Efficient Antimicrobial Agent and Photocatalyst

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Abstract

In this paper, MgO and CuO/MgO nanomaterials were green-synthesized by Opuntia monacantha plant extract. Phytochemical analysis of methanolic extract of the plant showed the presence of terpenoids and flavonoids which are responsible for the synthesis of nanoparticles. XRD revealed the crystalline nature of cubical MgO and CuO/MgO nanocomposite that exhibited additional peaks related to CuO nanomaterial. FESEM images confirmed 2D flower-like nanosheets of MgO and defective crumpled structure of CuO/MgO nanocomposites. CuO adsorbed on interfaces of MgO nanosheets by making Cu–O–Mg linkage is studied in FTIR spectrum. Improved optical features of CuO/MgO composite and reduced bandgap were confirmed in UV–Vis analysis. Prepared samples were employed in antimicrobial and photocatalysis applications. The prepared MgO, CuO/MgO nanocomposite and their synergism with standard antibiotics showed significant antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Bacillus subtilis. CuO/MgO composite showed a higher degradation of methyl orange (MO) (88%) than MgO. These results are expected to develop a new eco-friendly and cheap MgO and CuO/MgO nanocomposite with potent antimicrobial and photocatalytic applications.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported by International Islamic University Islamabad, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (NRPU 3660) and Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, International Islamic University Islamabad, H-10, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan

    Sehrish Abbas, Bushra Uzair, Shamaila Sajjad & Saima Noor

  2. Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Sajjad Ahmed Khan Leghari

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Bilal Khan Niazi

  4. The University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Iqra Farooq

  5. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Haroon Iqbal

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  1. Sehrish Abbas
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  2. Bushra Uzair
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  4. Sajjad Ahmed Khan Leghari
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Correspondence to Shamaila Sajjad.

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Abbas, S., Uzair, B., Sajjad, S. et al. Dual-Functional Green Facile CuO/MgO Nanosheets Composite as an Efficient Antimicrobial Agent and Photocatalyst. Arab J Sci Eng 47, 5895–5909 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-021-05741-1

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