Synergistic role of inclusion complexes in silyl modified β-cyclodextrin combined with NiO-Au nanocomposites synthesized via green synthesis: An efficient nanocatalyst for photocatalytic and antibacterial activities

Herein we report a novel modification technique to enhance the functionality of β-Cyclodextrin (βCD) through silyl modification, enabling it to interact effectively with nanomaterials for efficient photocatalysis and antibacterial applications. NiO-silylβCD-Au nanocomposite was synthesized via a green approach using Terminalia arjuna plant extract as an eco-friendly reducing agent. The structural purity of the synthesized samples was confirmed through XRD and XPS analysis, while FTIR verified the successful silyl modification of βCD. TEM images revealed a spherical morphology, and the bandgap reduction to 2.94 eV makes the material highly suitable for UV-light-driven applications. The βCD-functionalized nanocomposites exhibited 93% photocatalytic degradation efficiency and demonstrated a significantly higher zone of inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria compared to previous reports. The observed enhancement is attributed to the host-guest behavior of βCD, with silyl modification further improving its interaction with the nanomaterial. These findings highlight the potential of NiO-silylβCD-Au nanocomposites for practical applications in water remediation and antibacterial treatments.