AUTHOR=Khan Zia Ul Haq , Gul Noor Shad , Mehmood Faisal , Sabahat Sana , Muhammad Nawshad , Rahim Abdur , Iqbal Jibran , Khasim Syed , Salam Mohamed Abdel , Khan Taj Malook , Wu Jianbo 

TITLE=Green synthesis of lead oxide nanoparticles for photo-electrocatalytic and antimicrobial applications

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2023.1175114

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2023.1175114

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p>Synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) for many different uses requires the development of environmentally friendly synthesis protocols. In this article, we present a simple and environmentally friendly method to synthesize lead oxide (PbO) NPs from the plant material of the <italic>Mangifera indica</italic>. Analytical techniques such as spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microscopy were used to characterize the synthesized PbO NPs, and their photo-electrocatalytic and antifungal properties were also evaluated. H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> was used to investigate the efficacy of removing methylene blue dye. At a range of pH values, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> was used to study the role of hydroxyl radicals in the breakdown of methylene blue dye. Methylene blue dyes are more easily eliminated due to increased generation of the *OH radical during removal. Dye degradation was also significantly affected by the aqueous medium’s pH. Additionally, the electrocatalytic properties of the PbO NPs adapted electrode were studied in CH<sub>3</sub>COONa aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry. Excellent electrocatalytic properties of the PbO NPs are shown by the unity of the anodic and cathodic peaks of the modified electrode in comparison to the stranded electrode. <italic>Aspergillus flavus</italic>, <italic>Aspergillus niger</italic>, and <italic>Candida glabrata</italic> were some fungi tested with the PbO NPs. <italic>Against A. flavus</italic> (40%) and <italic>A. niger</italic> (50%), and <italic>C. glabrata</italic> (75%), the PbO NPs display an excellent inhibition zone. Finally, PbO NPs were used in antioxidant studies with the powerful antioxidant 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). This study presents a simple and environmentally friendly method for synthesizing PbO NPs with multiple uses, including photo-electrocatalytic and antimicrobial activity.</p>