Nanotechnology is a fast-expanding area with several applications in science, engineering, health, pharmacy, and other fields. Several physical/chemical techniques are often used to manufacture nanoparticles (NPs). Simpler, safer, and more cost-effective green synthesis technologies have recently been developed. The synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) in a green/sustainable manner has gotten a lot of interest in the previous quarter. Bioactive components present in organisms such as plants and bacteria enhance the bio-reduction and capping processes. The biogenic synthesis of TiO2 NPs, as well as the synthesis methods and formation process, are discussed in this review. A range of natural reducing agents including proteins, enzymes, phytochemicals, and others, are involved in the synthesis of TiO2 NPs. The physics of antibacterial and photocatalysis applications were also thoroughly discussed. Finally, we provide an overview of current research and future concerns in biologically mediated TiO2 nanostructures-based feasible platforms for industrial applications.

The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has been studied in detail using two different approaches. For the first time, Bacillus cereus is used for one-pot biosynthesis of capsulated Ag NPs, using both intracellular and extracellular approaches. To discriminate between the produced nanostructures by these two approaches, their structures, nanomorphologies, optical properties, hydrodynamic sizes and zeta potentials are studied using different techniques. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to identify the bioactive components responsible for the reduction of Ag+ ions into Ag and the growth of stable Ag NPs. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images displayed spherical and polygon nanomorphology for the intracellular and extracellular biosynthesized Ag NPs. For intracellular and extracellular biosynthesized Ag NPs, a face-centred cubic structure was observed, with average crystallite sizes of 45.4 and 90.8 nm, respectively. In comparison to the noncatalytic reduction test, the catalytic activities of intracellular and extracellular biosynthesized Ag NPs were explored for the reduction of highly concentrated MB dye solution. Extracellular Ag NPs achieved 100% MB reduction efficacy after around 80 min, compared to 50.6% and 24.1% in the presence and absence of intracellular Ag NPs, respectively. The rate of MB reduction was boosted by 22 times with the extracellular catalyst, and by 3 times with the intracellular catalyst. Therefore, the extracellular production process of Ag NPs utilizing Bacillus cereus bacteria might be applied in the industry as a cost-effective way for eliminating the toxic MB dye.

Using a simple approach, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized from green coffee bean extract. The optical color change from yellowish to reddish-brown of the green-produced Ag NPs was initially observed, which was confirmed by the UV-Visible spectrophotometer’s surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) bands at 329 and 425 nm. The functional groups of green coffee-capped Ag NPs (GC-capped Ag NPs) were studied using a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, revealing that Ag NPs had been capped by phytochemicals, resulting in excellent stability, and preventing nanoparticle aggregation. The presence of elemental silver is confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. In addition to the measurement of the zeta potential of the prepared GC-capped Ag NPs, the size distribution is evaluated by the dynamic light scattering. Depending on the nano-morphological study, the particle diameter of Ag NPs is 8.6 ± 3.5 nm, while the particle size of GC-capped Ag NPs is 29.9 ± 4.3 nm, implying the presence of well-dispersed nanospheres with an average capsulation layer of thickness 10.7 nm. The phyto-capped Ag NPs were found to be crystalline, having a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice structure and Ag crystallite size of ~7.2 nm, according to the XRD crystallographic analysis. The catalytic performance of phyto-capped Ag NPs in the removal of methylene blue dye by sodium borohydride (NaBH4) was investigated for 12 min to reach a degradation efficiency of approximately 96%. The scavenging activities of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals are also examined in comparison to previously reported Ag-based nano-catalysts, demonstrating a remarkable IC50 of 26.88 µg/mL, which is the first time it has been recorded.

Novel cubic microstructures for the purposes of plasmonic Ag-based NPs were made using biological wastes produced from a microbial culture of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) employing a bottom-up approach for the biosynthesis of metal-based nanomaterials. The unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the as-prepared Ag-based NPs was detected at 405 nm. The infra-red spectrum revealed that the used biological waste effectively stabilized our Ag-based NPs. Scanning and transmission electron microscopes were used in order to evaluate the sizes and shapes of the distinctive structures present in our samples. The Ag NPs had a face-centered cubic structure, with a size of 64.4 nm for the (200) nano-crystallites, according to the X-ray diffraction that was conducted. The zeta potential was found to be −19.5 mV and the dynamic light scattering (DLS) size was 238.8 nm. Methylene blue’s (MB) reaction with NaBH4 was used in order to measure the catalytic activity of the generated Ag-based NPs over a period of 1 to 5 min. With an astonishing reaction rate of 0.2861 min−1, the MB elimination percentage reached 67% in just 5 min, displaying outstanding catalytic activity. This work can therefore encourage the use of this biowaste for the ecologically benign, cost-effective, and long-term synthesis of innovative Ag-based nanoparticles and nanostructures, as well as in their use as catalysts in the catalytic reduction in MB.

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In this work, a low-cost, high-yield hydrothermal treatment was used to produce nanozeolite (Zeo), nanoserpentine (Serp), and Zeo/Serp nanocomposites with weight ratios of 1:1 and 2:1. At 250 °C for six hours, the hydrothermal treatment was conducted. Various methods are used to explore the morphologies, structures, compositions, and optical characteristics of the generated nanostructures. The morphological study revealed structures made of nanofibers, nanorods, and hybrid nanofibril/nanorods. The structural study showed clinoptilolite monoclinic zeolite and antigorite monoclinic serpentine with traces of talcum mineral and carbonates. As a novel photoelectrochemical catalyst, the performance of the Zeo/Serp (2:1) composite was evaluated for solar hydrogen generation from water splitting relative to its constituents. At −1 V, the Zeo/Serp (2:1) composite produced a maximum current density of 8.44 mA/g versus 7.01, 6.74, and 6.6 mA/g for hydrothermally treated Zeo/Serp (1:1), Zeo, and Serp, respectively. The Zeo/Serp (2:1) photocatalysts had a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency (STH) of 6.5% and an estimated hydrogen output rate of 14.43 mmole/h.g. Consequently, the current research paved the way for low-cost photoelectrochemical catalytic material for efficient solar hydrogen production by water splitting.