posted on 2018-05-11, 00:00authored byMohammad Ehtisham Khan, Thi Hiep Han, Mohammad Mansoob Khan, Md Rezaul Karim, Moo Hwan Cho
Noble-metal silver (Ag) nanoparticles
(NPs) anchored/decorated
onto polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as nanostructures (NSs) were prepared using
modest and environment-friendly synthesis method with a developed-single-strain
biofilm as a reducing implement. The as-fabricated NSs were characterized
using standard characterization techniques. The nanosized and uniform
AgNPs were well deposited onto the sheet-like matrix of g-C3N4 and exhibited good antimicrobial activity
and superior photodegradation of dyes methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine
B (RhB) dyes under visible-light illumination. The Ag@g-C3N4 NSs exhibited active and effective bactericidal
performance and a survival test in counter to Escherichia
coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The as-fabricated NSs also exhibited
superior visible-light photodegradation of MB and RhB in much less
time as compared to other reports. Ag@g-C3N4 NSs (3 mM) showed superior photocatalytic measurements
under visible-light irradiation: ∼100% MB degradation and ∼89%
of RhB degradation in 210 and 250 min, respectively. The obtained
results indicate that the AgNPs were well deposited onto the g-C3N4 structure, which decreases
the charge recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes
and extends the performance of pure g-C3N4 under visible light. In conclusion, the as-fabricated
Ag@g-C3N4 NSs are keen nanostructured
materials that can be applied as antimicrobial materials and visible-light-induced
photocatalysts.