Environmentally Sustainable Fabrication of Ag@g-C3N4 Nanostructures and Their Multifunctional Efficacy as Antibacterial Agents and Photocatalysts

Abstract

Noble-metal silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) anchored/decorated onto polymeric graphitic carbon nitride ( g -C 3 N 4 ) 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 -C 3 N 4 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 -C 3 N 4 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 -C 3 N 4 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 -C 3 N 4 structure, which decreases the charge recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes and extends the performance of pure g -C 3 N 4 under visible light. In conclusion, the as-fabricated Ag@ g -C 3 N 4 NSs are keen nanostructured materials that can be applied as antimicrobial materials and visible-light-induced photocatalysts.