Exploring the innovative impact of silver doping on the photocatalytic dye degradation and antibacterial efficacy of α-CuV2O6 nanoparticles

The Ag-doped α-CuV 2 O 6 nanoparticles, with doping levels of 2, 4, and 6 wt%, were synthesized using a hydrothermal process, followed by the incorporation of varying concentrations at those same levels. This study examined how different doping levels affected the photocatalytic properties and antibacterial effectiveness of the samples, revealing that the 6 wt % doping level exhibited the highest efficiency in both areas. The triclinic structure of the synthesized Ag-doped α-CuV 2 O 6 nanoparticles at different doping levels was confirmed through X-ray diffraction analysis. The calculated crystallite size indicated an increase consistent with higher doping levels. SEM was used to analyze the morphological features of the nanoparticles, and EDS confirmed the presence of Ag, Cu, V, and O in the synthesized nanoparticles. Furthermore, XPS analysis indicated the presence of Ag, Cu, O, and V, with only trace amounts of absorbed carbon, confirming the purity of the Ag/α-CuV 2 O 6 phase with a triclinic structure. UV-Visible spectrophotometry measurements revealed a decrease in band gap values as doping levels increased. A distinct peak in the PL emission spectra within the green wavelength range indicated the formation of deep energy levels within the samples' band gap. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized materials for degrading methylene blue dye under sunlight was evaluated using a UV-Visible spectrometer. The degradation efficiency increased with higher doping concentrations, reaching a maximum at 6 wt%. Values rose from 90.02 for 2 wt% Ag to 96.20 for 6 wt% Ag. The antibacterial properties of the synthesized compounds were tested against Gram-negative bacterial strains, especially Escherichia coli, resulting in noticeably larger inhibition zones. The bacterial inhibition zones for Ag-doped α-CuV 2 O 6 ranged from 4 mm at 2 wt% Ag to 16 mm at 6 wt% Ag. The nanoparticles with 6 wt% doping showed increased antibacterial activity, attributed to their significantly larger surface area, which boosted their effectiveness. • Ag-doped α-CuV 2 O 6 nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal process at various doping levels. • The 6 wt% doping level demonstrated the highest photocatalytic efficiency and antibacterial effectiveness. • Optical results indicated that band gap values decreased as doping levels increased. • The degradation of methylene blue dye peaked at 96.20% for 6 wt% Ag. • The antibacterial activity against E. coli was enhanced, resulting in an increase in inhibition zones from 4 mm (2 wt%) to 16 mm (6 wt%).