Browsing by Author "Baru, Kanika"

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    Multifunctional B4C/SnO2 Nanocomposites: A study on antimicrobial activity, photocatalysis, and electrical properties
    (2026) Baru, Kanika
    In this study, a novel B4C/SnO2 nanocomposite was synthesized via a facile wet chemical route and comprehensively evaluated for its antimicrobial, photocatalytic, and electrical properties. The 30 % SnO2-loaded B4C/SnO2 nanocomposite exhibited high photocatalytic performance under solar irradiation, achieving ~98 % degradation of Rhodamine B dye within 60 min with an apparent rate constant (k) of 0.04067 min 1. UV–Vis analysis confirmed enhanced visible-light absorption due to interfacial charge transfer between B4C and SnO2. In addition, the B4C/SnO2 nanocomposite demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Gram- negative bacteria with inhibition zones of 12–20 mm and showing MIC values of 300.85, 244.46, and 178.6 μg/mL against E. coli, and 235.95, 194.34, and 113.06 μg/mL against P. aeruginosa for the 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % SnO2 loadings, respectively. attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species and direct interaction with bacterial cell walls. Electrical conductivity measurements indicated thermally activated conduction behavior, with an activation energy of 0.84 eV, confirming the high-resistivity semiconducting nature of the B4C/SnO2 composite and its potential relevance for temperature-sensitive and resistive sensing ap plications. The synergistic interaction between B4C and SnO2 contributes to the multifunctionality of the composite, highlighting its potential in environmental remediation, antimicrobial coatings, and electronic applications.