Exploring the dual role of BiVO4 nanoparticles: unveiling enhanced antimicrobial efficacy and photocatalytic performance

Abstract

Abstract This study was focused on enhancing the structural, optical, antimicrobial, and photocatalytic activities of bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) nanoparticles. The current study utilized a simple hydrothermal technique to fabricate BiVO4 nanoparticles. Several techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), were used to examine BiVO4. The monoclinic structure of BiVO4 was confirmed through XRD, XPS, and Raman analysis, validating its high purity and the absence of secondary phases with a size of 31 nm. The decahedral structure and purity of BiVO4 were revealed through FESEM-EDS microstructure and surface morphology examination. A band gap of 2.36 eV was exhibited by the synthesized BiVO4 nanoparticles. The conduction band minimum and valence band maximum edge potentials were found to be 2.715 eV and 0.355 eV, respectively. The antimicrobial properties of BiVO4 NPs were evaluated using the disc diffusion method on a broad spectrum of pathogens. Various bacterial and fungal pathogens showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against BiVO4, indicating that BiVO4 nanoparticles (NPs) could be effective antimicrobial agents. In addition, the photocatalytic performance of BiVO4 and its degradation efficiency were investigated with Oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), and doxycycline (DC) antibiotics under visible light. The photocatalytic degradation results demonstrated that BiVO4 successfully degraded the antibiotic residuals. The results showed that the hydrothermally synthesized BiVO4 nanoparticles have great potential for use in biological and environmental applications. Graphical Abstract