Green synthesis of lead oxide nanoparticles for photo-electrocatalytic and antimicrobial applications

Zia Ul Haq Khan; Noor Shad Gul; Faisal Mehmood; Sana Sabahat; Nawshad Muhammad; Abdur Rahim; Jibran Iqbal; Syed Khasim; Mohamed Abdel Salam; Taj Malook Khan; Jianbo Wu

doi:10.3389/fchem.2023.1175114

Green synthesis of lead oxide nanoparticles for photo-electrocatalytic and antimicrobial applications

Front Chem. 2023 Jul 18:11:1175114. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1175114. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Zia Ul Haq Khan¹, Noor Shad Gul^{2

3}, Faisal Mehmood⁴, Sana Sabahat¹, Nawshad Muhammad⁵, Abdur Rahim¹, Jibran Iqbal⁶, Syed Khasim⁷, Mohamed Abdel Salam⁸, Taj Malook Khan^{2

3}, Jianbo Wu^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
² Drug Discovery Research Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
³ Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, The School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Dental Materials, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
⁶ College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
⁷ Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
⁸ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) for many different uses requires the development of environmentally friendly synthesis protocols. In this article, we present a simple and environmentally friendly method to synthesize lead oxide (PbO) NPs from the plant material of the Mangifera indica. Analytical techniques such as spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microscopy were used to characterize the synthesized PbO NPs, and their photo-electrocatalytic and antifungal properties were also evaluated. H₂O₂ was used to investigate the efficacy of removing methylene blue dye. At a range of pH values, H₂O₂ was used to study the role of hydroxyl radicals in the breakdown of methylene blue dye. Methylene blue dyes are more easily eliminated due to increased generation of the *OH radical during removal. Dye degradation was also significantly affected by the aqueous medium's pH. Additionally, the electrocatalytic properties of the PbO NPs adapted electrode were studied in CH₃COONa aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry. Excellent electrocatalytic properties of the PbO NPs are shown by the unity of the anodic and cathodic peaks of the modified electrode in comparison to the stranded electrode. Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Candida glabrata were some fungi tested with the PbO NPs. Against A. flavus (40%) and A. niger (50%), and C. glabrata (75%), the PbO NPs display an excellent inhibition zone. Finally, PbO NPs were used in antioxidant studies with the powerful antioxidant 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). This study presents a simple and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing PbO NPs with multiple uses, including photo-electrocatalytic and antimicrobial activity.

Keywords: antimicrobial properties; cyclic voltammetry; electrolytic properties; green synthesis; lead oxide; photocatalytic activity.

Grants and funding

The authors are thankful to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, for NRPU Project (No: 7814/Federal/ NRPU/R&D/HEC/ 2017) and Drug Discovery Research Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China. This work was supported by the Drug Discovery Research Center, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China, under grant No.42-00170010, which was awarded to NG.