Eco-friendly synthesis and multifaceted environmental applications of AgCu bimetallic nanoparticles

• Eco-friendly synthesis of Silver-Copper alloy bimetallic nanoparticles (AgCu BNPs) using Colocasia esculenta stem extract. • Efficient catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol and rhodamine B by AgCu BNPs. • Strong antibacterial activity of AgCu BNPs against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Addressing the escalating challenges of water pollution requires sustainable pollutant remediation solutions, with nanoparticles (NPs) playing a pivotal role as catalysts. This study explores an eco-friendly synthesis of silver-copper bimetallic nanoparticles (AgCu BNPs) using Colocasia esculenta stem extract as a bio-reducing and capping agent. Structural and morphological analyses confirm the formation of alloyed AgCu BNPs. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis reveals uniformly dispersed NPs with an average particle size of 8.3 nm. Elemental mapping confirms the homogeneous distribution of silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) within the NPs, verifying successful alloy formation. Comparative studies with monometallic Ag and Cu NPs highlight the superior catalytic efficiency of AgCu BNPs. They demonstrate rapid reduction kinetics for rhodamine B (99.97 % in 12 min) and 4-nitrophenol (88.5 % in 8 min), surpassing Ag NPs and showing comparable efficiency to Cu NPs. Additionally, AgCu BNPs exhibit significant antibacterial properties against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, showcasing their potential for multifaceted environmental applications. These findings underscore the need for further research to optimize the potential of BNPs in contemporary environmental remediation.