Synthesis of Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Carbon Supported AgO Nanocomposite, Characterizations and Photocatalytic Activity Studies

Abstract

Synthesis of Carbon-supported AgO nanocomposite is reported for the first time. Henna carbon was successfully synthesized from henna leaf. Bare AgO and C-AgO nanocomposites are effectively made using the precipitation method. The synthesised composites structural, morphological, and optical properties are assessed using FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, UV-DRS, and PL techniques. FT-IR analysis proved that specific functional groups of synthesized materials. The uniform distribution of the composites is revealed in the FE-SEM. XRD measurements show that the materials show a cubic phase. Bandgap values are of 2.17 and 1.72 eV for AgO and C-AgO, respectively; these nanocomposites show a high degree of semiconductivity. Methylene blue (MB) dye is used as a model contaminant to quantify the composites photocatalytic activity. The photodegradation capacities of AgO, and C-AgO catalysts increased to 85.28, 95.90%. Consequently, compared to the pure AgO, the C-AgO composite performs better due to the synergetic effect of the henna carbon which boosted UV light absorption with reduce charge carrier recombination with enhanced photocatalytic activity. A possible mechanism is suggested as the carbon effect. The C-AgO nanocomposite showed a better photocatalytic activity due to the reduced bandgap, PL intensity and increasing surface area. The C-AgO nanocomposite is used for the degradation of organic pollutants in water, such as dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial waste. These pollutants are broken down into harmless substances, often carbon dioxide and water, making it a green alternative for treating wastewater.