Green Synthesis of Silver Oxide-Nickel Oxide Bimetallic Nanoparticles Using Peels of Citrus Sinensis and their Application

Nanotechnology stands as a ground-breaking domain facilitating the modification of matter at the nanoscale, holding vast potential for advancements in medicine, energy, electronics, and materials science. This research focuses on the environmentally production of bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) composed of silver oxide-nickel oxide (Ag₂O-NiO) byutilizing discarded orange peels (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) as both reducing and stabilizing agents. Through a series of methodically conducted experiments, the synthesis of nanoparticles was successfully achieved, followed by a comprehensive characterization employing an array of analytical techniques including Ultra Violet visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The average size of the synthesized Ag₂O-NiO BMNPs was determined to be 28.8 nm, with remarkable scavenging activity reaching 45% at a concentration of 1000 µg/ml. Additionally, the investigation unveiled the rapid degradation of three different azo dyes methyl red (60%), eosin yellow (65%), and phenol red (87%) respectively, within a timeframe of less than 10 min. Furthermore, the bacterial strain of B. subtilis exhibited the most substantial inhibition zone of 14 mm at a concentration of 200 µl/ml. The study emphasizes the reduction potential and sustainable synthesis pathway demonstrated herein, highlighting the significance of harnessing waste materials for nanoparticle production.