Silver-coated Zea mays L. nanocatalyst for efficient Azo dye photodegradation and antimicrobial applications

The increasing environmental issues and anticipated energy crisis highlight the urgent need for a cost-effective and efficient photocatalyst that responds to UV light for contaminant degradation. This work presents a novel approach to synthesizing Zea mays L.-loaded silver oxide nanoparticles (Ag₂O) by chemically depositing a thin coating of Ag₂O NPs onto the surface of Zea mays L. with two ratios (e.g., 5 & 10%) to form novel cost-effective core-shell Ag₂O/Z nanostructures. To assess morphology, and elemental composition, the synthesized composite was examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. The effectiveness of 10% Ag₂O/Z as a catalyst and adsorbent was evaluated based on several criteria, including pH, beginning concentration of the target dye, and the amount of nanocomposite utilized. Significantly, 0.01 g of 10% Ag₂O/Z attained a 95.0% elimination of MB at a solution pH of 9.0 after 120 min. Moreover, the Ag₂O NPs and Ag₂O/Z core-shell nanostructures exhibited strong antibacterial effects, with the presence of Ag₂O NPs enhancing their antimicrobial properties and suggesting a synergistic effect with the Zea mays L. matrix against Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC:10031), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC:13565), Bacillus subtilis (DSM:1088), and Candida albicans (ATCC:10231). In summary, Ag₂O/Z core-shell nanostructure showed strong antibacterial activity against gram-positive, gram-negative, and fungal pathogens, as well as effective dye removal capabilities, making them a viable agent for industrial and environmental applications.