Facile green synthesis of silver oxide nanoparticles and their electrochemical, photocatalytic and biological studies

In the recent times, cost-effective and eco-friendly processes of synthesizing nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a substitute to conventional synthetic methods. Several research groups in the past have synthesized silver oxide (Ag2O) nanoparticles from various plant extracts and have been extensively reported. A first of its kind facile green combustion method has been adopted here to synthesize Ag2O NPs using Centella Asiatica and Tridax plant powder. The unique pentacyclic and triterpene constituents of Centella Asiatica and tridax powder has kindled our curiosity to explore their electrochemical, photocatalytic and biological activities that may contribute to various environmentally benign industrial applications. The cyclic voltammetric studies show that the cathodic and anodic peak potentials for the synthesized Ag2O NPs exhibit hysteresis in the range of 0.3 V to −0.1 V. A high percentage of degradation of acid orange 8 (AO8) dye by the synthesized Ag2O NPs offers new hope on its potential photocatalytic activity. Finally, their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities carried out against S. epidermidis and S. aureus and A. fumigates and A. aureus respectively, have shed new light on the ability of the synthesized Ag2O NPs to inhibit the growth of various disease-causing pathogens. Hence, it is believed that this research work will act as a fundamental basis to various researchers and industrialists working in the energy, water and biological fields to carry out advanced studies in the aforementioned domains.