Catalytic evaluation and in vitro bacterial inactivation of graphitic carbon nitride/carbon sphere doped bismuth oxide quantum dots with evidential in silico analysis.

Herein, Bi ₂ O ₃ quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized and doped with various concentrations of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C ₃ N ₄ ) and a fixed amount of carbon spheres (CS) using a co-precipitation technique. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of monoclinic structure along the space group P 2 ₁ / c and C 2/ c . Various functional groups and characteristic peaks of (Bi-O) were identified using FTIR spectra. QDs morphology of Bi ₂ O ₃ showed agglomeration with higher amounts of g-C ₃ N ₄ by TEM analysis. HR-TEM determined the variation in the d -spacing which increased with increasing dopants. These doping agents were employed to reduce the exciting recombination rate of Bi ₂ O ₃ QDs by providing more active sites which enhance antibacterial activity. Notably, (6 wt%) g-C ₃ N ₄ /CS-doped Bi ₂ O ₃ exhibited considerable antimicrobial potential in opposition to E. coli at higher values of concentrations relative to ciprofloxacin. The (3 wt%) g-C ₃ N ₄ /CS-doped Bi ₂ O ₃ exhibits the highest catalytic potential (97.67%) against RhB in a neutral medium. The compound g-C ₃ N ₄ /CS-Bi ₂ O ₃ has been suggested as a potential inhibitor of β-lactamase _E. coli and DNA gyrase _E. coli based on the findings of a molecular docking study that was in better agreement with in vitro bactericidal activity.
Competing Interests: No conflict of interest.
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