Biogenic fabrication of α-h Phase 2D-MoO3 nanomaterials: Comprehensive analysis of physicochemical and impedance properties for biological and photocatalytic applications
S. Surendhiran, Jagan Krishnaveni Selva Ganeshan, A. Karthik, V. Rajendran
Abstract
The design of high aspect ratio nanomaterials for environmental remedies is gaining attention, mainly through eco-friendly approaches. This study presents the first-ever report on the green preparation of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MoO 3 NPs) using a leaf extract derived from Eucalyptus . XRD and Rietveld refinement analysis confirmed the effect of calcination temperature in obtaining the α- and h- phases of MoO 3 NPs . The FTIR analysis revealed the functional group characteristics of MoO 3 NPs. By the influence of Eucalyptus extract mediation, FE-SEM images showed the hexagonal shape of MoO 3 NPs with well-organized 2D rod-like structures mediated by the Eucalyptus extract. The h-MoO 3 nanocrystalline materials with a higher concentration (100 mg/µL) demonstrated exceptional antioxidant and antibacterial characteristics against multi-drug-resistant bacteria, specifically S. aureus and E. coli . The photocatalytic activity for the dye degradation process was investigated with measurement of MoO 3 NPs point-of-zero charges against different pH (1.8, 3.8, and 5.8) and (3.7, 5.7, and 7.7) of Rhodamine B and Brilliant Blue dye solution. The precise point of zero-charge of MoO 3 NPs degraded 99.08% of Rhodamine B dye within 90 min, with a 4.98 × 10 −2 min −1 degradation rate. The cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for the production of 2D MoO 3 nanocrystalline rods demonstrates excellent catalytic performance and introduces a novel framework for advancing photocatalyst applications.