Development of Ag–CeO₂ Bimetallic Nanocomposite for Visible-Light-induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Eriochrome Black T

A simple co-precipitation method was adopted to synthesize the Silver-Cerium oxide (Ag–CeO₂) bimetallic nanocomposite (BMNPs) using Lantana Camara extract, which can work as a reducing agent and capping agent to stabilize the desired BMNPs. The color change from yellowish brown to dark brown indicates the formation of nanoparticles, which were further identified through the absorbance peaks of UV–Vis at 284 and 428 nm for cerium oxide (CeO₂) and (Ag), respectively. As-synthesized BMNPs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The Zeta potential of Ag, CeO₂, and Ag–CeO₂ was found to be − 13, − 1.57, and − 1.4 mV, respectively. Moreover, the XRD results confirmed the formation of a cubic crystalline structure of BMNPs. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of BMNPs was 85% for Eriochrome Black T by Ag–CeO₂. The study provides a new route toward the green synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles for degrading hazardous textile dyes.