Efficient Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye and Antibacterial Performance of Shape Controlled RuO ₂ Nanocomposites

Abstract

Abstract Arising global health problems have drawn significant interest in the researcher's community to fabricate multifunctional nanocomposites that could directly or indirectly treat polluted water. Herein, a simple but cost‐effective method is proposed for the fabrication of flower‐shaped RuO 2 NPs (nanoparticles) on SWCNTs (single‐walled carbon nanotubes). The synthesized composite acts as a one‐stop solution for eliminating harmful dyes and pathogens from potable water. The structural, morphological, and chemical compositions of RuO 2 /SWCNT were carefully investigated and the observations revealed that crystalline RuO 2 NPs possessing quantum dot range sizes were homogeneously decorated on the inner as well as exterior cavities of activated SWCNTs. The nanocomposite proved as an efficient photocatalyst against MB (methylene blue) dye and colourless phenol. The photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of RuO 2 , SWCNT, and RuO 2 /SWCNT is 57%, 21%, and 92.6% respectively against MB dye. Colourless phenol degradation and scavenging studies were performed to rule out the photosensitization effect and examine the role of active species during photodegradation respectively. Moreover, when the residual remains of the composite after degradation experiments were used as an antibacterial agent, it proved most lethal against E. coli and L. monocytogenes with 13.7±0.45 and 12.5±0.15 mm diameter of ZOI respectively at rather low doses (0.07 mg/mL). Finally, the synthesized composite could reduce the industrial cost of application and also influence the engineering and logical fabrication of nanocomposites for their reusability and multifunctional proficiencies.