Surface Nanoarchitectonics of Delafossite AgFeO2 with Chitosan Derived Nanodots: Innovative Catalyst for Phenol Access and Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Applications

Abstract

In this work, we present a facile method for accessing phenols through the ipsohydroxylation of arylboronic acid using delafossite silver ferrite (AgFeO₂) functionalized with chitosan-derived nanodots (CDs) as a reusable catalyst (AgFeO₂@CD). The catalyst, synthesized via the wet impregnation method, was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. The ipsohydroxylation reaction conditions were optimized to achieve high catalytic efficiency, yielding up to 99% of the product at room temperature in an aqueous medium with hydrogen peroxide as a mild and environmentally friendly oxidant. The process generates water as the only by-product, ensuring cleanliness. The catalyst, recoverable with a simple external magnet, demonstrated no significant structural changes or loss in catalytic activity after five cycles, highlighting its reusability and recyclability. Furthermore, we investigated the potent antibacterial activity of AgFeO₂@CD against Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The presence of Ag and CDs in the catalyst contributed to a significant reduction in pathogen growth, establishing it as an effective antibacterial agent. This multifunctional catalyst shows great promise in both catalysis and antibacterial applications, with its magnetic retrievability making it particularly valuable for ipsohydroxylation reactions.

Graphical Abstract