Biosynthesis of CeO2 Nanoparticles from Ficus Racemosa Leaves: Exploring Antimicrobial and Electrochemical Activities

A simple and eco-friendly method was employed to prepare cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) using Ficus racemosa (FR) leaf extract. CeO₂ NPs formation was confirmed via various spectroscopic analysis. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirms the presence of Ce-O and O-Ce-O stretching vibrations in the CeO₂ NPs. The Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy of CeO₂ NPs displayed a peak absorbance band between 300 and 330 nm, attributed to the charge transfer from O 2p to Ce 4f orbitals. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) study revealed a cubic fluorite-type crystalline structure with an average crystallite size of approximately 10 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the CeO₂ NPs exhibited a uniform spherical shape, with sizes ranging from 50 to 100 nm. Additionally, Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) results confirmed that the synthesized sample contains only cerium and oxygen. The electrochemical analysis of CeO₂ NPs revealed enhanced conductivity and efficient electron transfer. The antibacterial activity of CeO₂ NPs against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition zones, while a similar pattern of dose dependency was observed for its antifungal activity against Candida albicans, indicating their potential as antibacterial and antifungal agents.