Cr2O3/cellulose hybrid nanocomposites with unique properties: Facile synthesis, photocatalytic, bactericidal and antioxidant application

Abstract

Development of high responsive photocatalysts for the degradation of dye from water is a significance method to solve the difficulties of water contamination. In the present project, Cr2O3 nanoparticles were decorated onto cellulose through a facile synthesis method, which was exposed to characterization by XRD, FESEM, DLS, PL, and UV–vis spectroscopy. The structural attributes confirmed the presence of rhombohedral phase of Cr2O3 nanoparticles. The mean crystal size of Cr2O3, and Cr2O3/cellulose nanocomposites were 38.50 nm, and 50.11 nm, respectively. The band gap values (Eg) of Cr2O3, and Cr2O3/cellulose nanocomposites were was found 3.00, and 2.53 eV, respectively. Moreover, the morphological and optical studies have been showed the impressive photocatalytic properties of the prepared Cr2O3/cellulose nanocomposites. The photocatalytic efficiency of Cr2O3, and Cr2O3/cellulose nanocomposites has been investigated for the photo-degradation of crystal violet in the ultraviolet light region. The Cr2O3/cellulose indicated promising photocatalytic performance and up to 99.65% of the crystal violet was photo-degraded in 40 min. The obtained crystal violet degradation results were fitted onto a Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) plot. The antioxidant performances of Cr2O3, and Cr2O3/cellulose were analyzed. The beneficial antibacterial performance of the Cr2O3/cellulose nanocomposites was tested by various bacteria as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aurous, and Streptococcus pyogenes.