Ce3+ doped AlCr2O4 nanochromites: Synthesis, structural, optical, photocatalytic, antimicrobial, and anticancer studies

Abstract

Al_1-xCe_xCr₂O₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) nano chromites were synthesized by citrate gel auto combustion method. The prepared nano chromites possess a spinel structure and an Fd₃m space group, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The crystalline size was found to be in the range of 20–30 nm. The presence of metal oxygen bonds in tetrahedral and octahedral structure of the nano chromites was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum. The synthesized materials exhibit an optical direct band gap energy found to be 3.06 to 2.15 eV, which is calculated by Tauc plots. The fluorescence emission spectra exhibited a strong emission peak at around 400 nm. The synthesized materials were utilized for the photocatalytic degradation of industrial pollutant dyes like acid red and methylene blue under irradiation of UV light. Pure AlCr₂O₄ sample shows highest degradation activity of methylene blue (35 %), whereas for acid red Al_0.9Ce_0.1Cr₂O₄ sample high degradation efficiency (62 %). Staphylococcus, Bacillus, E. coli, and Klebsiella bacterial strains were used to analyse the anti-bacterial activity of the synthesized nano chromites. Additionally, the anticancer activity of the prepared nano chromites was evaluated using Hea cell lines. Hea cells treated with Al_0.96Ce _0.04Cr₂O₄ exhibited an IC₅₀ values of 62.73 μg. The highest amount of inhibition was shown by the lowest viability (58.31 %) for 100 μg of nanochromites.