%0 Journal Article
%T Green synthesis and multifunctional properties of Cu/NiO nanocomposites using Commelina benghalensis leaf extract.
%A Kumar R
%A Kumar K
%A Thakur N
%A Umar A
%A Ibrahim AA
%A Akbar S
%A Baskoutas S
%J Chemosphere
%V 362
%N 0
%D 2024 Aug 10
%M 38996979
%F 8.943
%R 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142805
%X This study presents the green synthesis and multifunctional properties of Cu/NiO nanocomposites (NCs) fabricated with varying ratios (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) using Commelina benghalensis leaf extract. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the polycrystalline nature of the NCs, revealing crystallite sizes of 13.62, 13.22, and 7.14 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed rod-shaped and agglomerated particles with sizes ranging from 17.64 to 22.97 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) verified the elemental composition of copper, nickel, oxygen, and carbon. UV-visible spectroscopy determined the energy band gaps to be in the range of 1.24-1.56 eV. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) indicated the presence of bioactive compounds responsible for the reduction of precursor metal salts. The Cu/NiO NCs exhibited remarkable antimicrobial activity, with the 90:10 ratio showing the highest zones of inhibition at 32.76 ± 0.23 mm, 18.66 ± 0.33 mm, and 14.36 ± 0.32 mm against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, respectively. Additionally, the 70:30 Cu/NiO NCs demonstrated superior antioxidant activity, with a radical scavenging efficiency of 83.22%, closely approaching that of ascorbic acid (96.98%). Photocatalytic evaluations revealed that the NCs were highly effective in degrading environmental pollutants, achieving 97.69% degradation of malachite green and 96.52% of congo red under UV light irradiation. The novelty of this work lies in the use of Commelina benghalensis leaf extract as a sustainable and eco-friendly reducing and stabilizing agent for synthesizing Cu/NiO NCs, offering a green alternative to conventional methods. The synergistic effects between Cu and NiO in the different compositions (90:10, 80:20, and 70:30) enhanced the overall antimicrobial and photocatalytic activities, highlighting their potential for environmental remediation applications.