Tripartite synergy: Photodegradation of congo red and bromothymol blue with concurrent bacterial photoinhibition using ZnCe/Bi2Mn2O6/rGO nanocomposites

Abstract

The present research studies show the multidimensional characteristics of ZnCe/Bi2Mn2O6/rGO nanostructures for photocatalytic degradation of bromothymol blue (BTB), Congo red (CR) and photoinhibition of E. coli and S. aureus. A new solvothermal protocol was applied for the synthesis of ZnCe/Bi2Mn2O6/rGO nanomaterial. Important analytical techniques were applied for the characterization of the said nanomaterials. When allowed to visible light, the said nanostructure demonstrated excellent photocatalytic degradation of both the said dyes. The findings revealed that almost 99 % of both dyes were eliminated in just 30 min. In the absence of light, there was less than 60 % decline in both dyes even after 100 min. The ZnCe/Bi2Mn2O6/rGO was tested multiple times against the said dyes, and after seven cycles, its efficiency was reduced by only 15 %. Moreover, the nanostructures exhibited promising antibacterial properties by inducing photoinhibition of both E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The inhibition zones of ZnCe/Bi2Mn2O6/rGO under visible light irradiation were measured to be approximately 17 ± 0.2 mm against E. coli and 19 ± 0.3 mm against S. aureus. These nanostructures effectively impeded bacterial growth and viability, underscoring their potential for applications in water disinfection and as antibacterial coatings. They are promising options for a variety of applications, especially as catalysts in many industries, due to their non-toxic nature and thermal stability. This work presents fascinating avenues for further investigation into the application of nanocomposites in healthcare and environmental preservation.