Visible-Light-Driven Mentha spicata L.-Mediated Ag-Doped Bi2Zr2O7 Nanocomposite for Enhanced Degradation of Organic Pollutants, Electrochemical Sensing, and Antibacterial Applications

Novel visible-light-driven Ag (X)-doped Bi₂Zr₂O₇ (BZO) nanocomposites in pudina (P) extract (Mentha spicata L.), X-1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mol %, were synthesized by the one-pot greener solution combustion method. The as-synthesized nanocomposite materials were characterized by using various spectral [X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared, UV–visible, UV– diffuse reflectance spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy], electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), and analytical (scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) techniques. The average particle size of the nanocomposite material was found to be between 14.8 and 39.2 nm by XRD. The well-characterized Ag-doped BZOP nanocomposite materials exhibited enhanced photocatalytic degradation activity toward hazardous dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and rose bengal (RB) under visible light irradiation ranges between 400 and 800 nm due to their low energy band gap. As a result, 7 mol % of Ag-doped BZOP nanocomposite material exhibited excellent photodegradation activity against MB (D.E. = 98.7%) and RB (D.E. = 99.3%) as compared to other Ag-doped BZOP nanocomposite materials and pure BZOP nanocomposite, respectively, due to enhanced semiconducting and optical behaviors, high binding energy, and mechanical and thermal stabilities. The Ag-doped BZOP nanocomposite material-based electrochemical sensor showed good sensing ability toward the determination of lead nitrate and dextrose with the lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 18 μM and 12 μM, respectively. Furthermore, as a result of the initial antibacterial screening study, the Ag-doped BZOP nanocomposite material was found to be more effective against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) as compared to Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. The scavenger study reveals that radicals such as O₂^•– and ^•OH are responsible for MB and RB mineralization. TOC removal percentages were found to be 96.8 and 98.5% for MB and RB dyes, and experimental data reveal that the Ag-doped BZOP enhances the radical (O₂^•– and ^•OH) formation and MB and RB degradation under visible-light irradiation.