Comparative study of fungal-engineered tri- and di-metal oxide-decorated graphene oxide nanohybrids as promising nanoantimicrobials and efficient nano catalysts

Funding Sponsor

American University in Cairo

Third Author's Department

Chemistry Department

Fourth Author's Department

Chemistry Department

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2025.117319

All Authors

Basma A. Omran M. O. Abdel-Salam Hebatullah H. Farghal Mayyada M.H. El-Sayed Kwang Hyun Baek

Document Type

Research Article

Publication Title

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering

Publication Date

8-1-2025

doi

10.1016/j.jece.2025.117319

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO)-based nanohybrids have emerged as highly effective materials for antimicrobial and catalytic applications. In this study, GO was decorated with di- and tri-nano metal oxides (NMOs) comprising TiO2, CuO, and Ag2O nanoparticles. The three NMOs were mycogenically prepared using the extracellular filtrate of Trichoderma virens, as a green sustainable approach. XRD analysis confirmed the high crystallinity of the composites, with diffraction peaks corresponding to cubic carbon (GO), rutile TiO2, and Ag2O (in TiO2/Ag2O@GO), along with monoclinic CuO (in TiO2/CuO/Ag2O@GO). Scherrer calculations revealed average crystallite sizes of 32.67 and 35.56 nm, respectively, indicating effective immobilization of nanostructures onto GO without significant agglomeration. FT-IR spectroscopy identified characteristic functional groups, including hydroxyl (-OH), carbonyl (C=O), and metal-oxygen (Ti-O, Ag-O, Cu-O) bonds, confirming successful hybridization. Raman spectroscopy revealed D and G bands at 1364.61/1586.55 cm-1 for TiO2/Ag2O@GO and 1354.22/1576.16 cm-1 for TiO2/CuO/Ag2O@GO, with ID/IG ratios of 0.86 and 0.85, respectively, indicating structural modifications due to nanoparticle integration. DLS showed hydrodynamic sizes of 145.2 nm and 195.4 nm, while zeta potential measurements indicated good colloidal stability (ζ = -33.7 mV for TiO2/ Ag2O@GO and -29.2 mV for TiO2/CuO/Ag2O@GO, respectively). EDAX and XPS confirmed the elemental composition and oxidation states of Ti, Ag, and Cu with no impurities detected. FE-SEM and HR-TEM revealed a wrinkled GO morphology decorated with uniformly distributed TiO2, CuO, and Ag2O nanoparticles, preventing GO restacking. The nanobiohybrids; TiO2/Ag2O@GO and TiO2/CuO/Ag2O@GO exhibited high antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, with TiO2/CuO/Ag2O@GO showing superior performance (highest zone of inhibition, 15.40 ± 0.22 mm against Xanthomonas citri). The enhanced activity was attributed to synergistic effects of metal ions (Ag+, Cu2+) and generation of reactive oxygen species, disrupting bacterial membranes and cellular functions. In catalytic application, TiO2/CuO/Ag2O@GO achieved approximately 96 % degradation of methyl orange in tap water within 6 min, outperforming TiO2/Ag2O@GO, with PMS activation generating sulfate (SO4-•) and hydroxyl (OH•) radicals as key oxidative species for dye degradation. The enhanced performance of TiO2/CuO/Ag2O@GO was attributed to the synergistic effects of the NMOs and GO.

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