Blackberry gel-assisted combustion modified MgO: Sm3+ nanoparticles for photocatalytic, battery, sensor and antibacterial applications

Abstract

Green synthetic methods are currently preferred in industry over other physicochemical methods. Herein, we present a facile, environmentally friendly, non-toxic approach for the fabrication of MgO using jamun fruit extract. The phytochemicals present in the fruit extract, such as kaemferol, glucoside, anthocyanins, ellagic acid, myricetin, and isoquercetin, facilitate the bio-reduction of Mg(NO3)2. Pure and Sm3+ (1–7 mol %) doped MgO nanomaterials were synthesized using this bio-mediated synthetic method. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized nanomaterials were studied using Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) techniques. The effect of Sm3+ ions on the host matrix for the photo-catalytic oxidation of Fast Orange-Red (FOR) dye was investigated under UV light irradiation. MgO: Sm3+(3 mol %) exhibited superior (94 %) degradation of the dye compared to pristine and other doped catalysts, attributed to the maximum migration of charge carriers at the catalyst's surface. Additionally, the 3 mol % Sm3+ doped MgO electrode demonstrated a smaller charge transfer resistance, indicating superior capacitive properties compared to pristine and other doped electrodes. The synthesized materials also exhibited effective bacterial activity against pathogens. This research demonstrates the potential of the synthesized nanomaterials for environmental pollution purification, as well as their utility as electrode materials for supercapacitors, batteries, sensors, and antibacterial applications.