Green and Environmentally Sustainable Fabrication of Ag-SnO₂ Nanocomposite and Its Multifunctional Efficacy As Photocatalyst and Antibacterial and Antioxidant Agent

Herein, we describe a phytosynthetic, additive-free, economically viable, environmentally sustainable and rapid methodology for the formation of sphere-shaped Ag-SnO₂ nanocomposites of 9 nm average particle size employing the stem extracts of Saccharum officinarum. Employing various spectroscopic techniques, the morphology, size, crystallinity, elemental conformation, and functional groups liable for surface stabilization as well as capping were depicted. Considerably, the Ag-SnO₂ nanocomposite in aqueous phase revealed excellent removal efficiency for the abatement of four industrially emerging pollutants (Methylene Blue, Rose Bengal, Methyl Violet 6B, and 4-nitrophenol) and probable mechanisms were also suggested. Nearly, 99.1, 99.6, 99.5, and 98.4% of Methylene Blue, Rose Bengal, Methyl Violet 6B, and 4-nitrophenol were eradicated respectively, within 60, 75, 75, and 58.3 min using the synthesized nanocomposite. Moreover, the spent nanocomposites were renewed and their photocatalytic proficiencies were assessed for three consecutive cycles. The spent nanocomposite and the degraded products were respectively analyzed using X-ray diffraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry spectroscopic methods. Additionally, the nanocomposite displayed comparative antimicrobial action against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus subtilis and indicated fair activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging with IC₅₀ values 0.73 mM depicting its efficient antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Thus, the present article has disclosed a revolutionary way for fabricating Ag-SnO₂ nanocomposites and depicted their multifunctional efficacy as photocatalysts and reducing and prospective antibacterial and antioxidant agents.