Bismuth Vanadate Decked Polyaniline Polymeric Nanocomposites: The Robust Photocatalytic Destruction of Microbial and Chemical Toxicants

Jari S Algethami; M Shamshi Hassan; Touseef Amna; Laila S Alqarni; Mohsen A M Alhamami; Amal F Seliem

doi:10.3390/ma16093314

Bismuth Vanadate Decked Polyaniline Polymeric Nanocomposites: The Robust Photocatalytic Destruction of Microbial and Chemical Toxicants

Materials (Basel). 2023 Apr 23;16(9):3314. doi: 10.3390/ma16093314.

Authors

Jari S Algethami^{1

2}, M Shamshi Hassan³, Touseef Amna⁴, Laila S Alqarni⁵, Mohsen A M Alhamami¹, Amal F Seliem¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Arts, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia.
² Promising Centre for Sensors and Electronic Devices (PCSED), Advanced Materials and Nano-Research Centre, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia.
³ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Albaha University, Albaha 65799, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Biology, College of Science, Albaha University, Albaha 65799, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Chemistry Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Functional materials have long been studied for a variety of environmental applications, resource rescue, and many other conceivable applications. The present study reports on the synthesis of bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) integrated polyaniline (PANI) using the hydrothermal method. The topology of BiVO₄ decked PANI catalysts was investigated by SEM and TEM. XRD, EDX, FT-IR, and antibacterial testing were used to examine the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of the samples, respectively. Microscopic images revealed that BiVO₄@PANI are comprised of BiVO₄ hollow cages made up of nanobeads that are uniformly dispersed across PANI tubes. The PL results confirm that the composite has the lowest electron-hole recombination compared to others samples. BiVO₄@PANI composite photocatalysts demonstrated the maximum degradation efficiency compared to pure BiVO₄ and PANI for rhodamine B dye. The probable antimicrobial and photocatalytic mechanisms of the BiVO₄@PANI photocatalyst were proposed. The enhanced antibacterial and photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the high surface area and combined impact of PANI and BiVO₄, which promoted the migration efficiency of photo-generated electron holes. These findings open up ways for the potential use of BiVO₄@PANI in industries, environmental remediation, pharmaceutical and medical sectors. Nevertheless, biocompatibility for human tissues should be thoroughly examined to lead to future improvements in photocatalytic performance and increase antibacterial efficacy.

Keywords: BiVO4@PANI; antibacterial; environmental remediation; nanocomposite; photocatalyst.

Grants and funding

This research received funding from Deputy for Research and Innovation Ministry of Education, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this research through a grant (NU/IFC/2/SERC/-/1) under the Institutional Funding Committee at Najran University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.