Green synthesis, characterization, photocatalytic, fluorescence and antimicrobial activities of Cochlospermum gossypium capped Ag2S nanoparticles.

The study describes a simple and green method for the synthesis of silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag2S NPs) using gum kondagogu (Cochlospermum gossypium) (GK). The synthesized NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), fluorescence, UV-vis absorption, zeta potential and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. The optical properties and quantum confinement effect of the products were confirmed by means of spectroscopic measurements. The morphologies and sizes were characterized by SEM and TEM. The Ag2S NPs were spherical in shape with an effective diameter size of 25 nm. The photocatalytic property of Ag2S NPs was evaluated by the degradation of fluorescein (FL) dye under solar light. The effect of Ag2SNPs on the photocatalytic degradation of FL dye and influence of other parameters such as Ag2S loading, H2O2, temperature and under solar light irradiation was also evaluated. The degradation reaction follows the pseudo-first order kinetics. The apparent reaction rate was used to calculate the apparent activation energy (Ea=13.95 kJ/mol) of the degradation process. The activation thermodynamic parameters (ΔG*, ΔH* and ΔS*) were obtained from variable temperature kinetic studies. The interaction between Ag2S NPs and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by using fluorescence spectroscopic measurements. The synthesized Ag2S NPs were showing good antimicrobial activity.