Graphene oxide (GO)-doped
MnO2 nanorods loaded with
2, 4, and 6% GO were synthesized via the chemical precipitation route
at room temperature. The aim of this work was to determine the catalytic
and bactericidal activities of prepared nanocomposites. Structural,
optical, and morphological properties as well as elemental composition
of samples were investigated with advanced techniques such as X-ray
diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy,
UV–visible (vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), energy-dispersive
spectrometry (EDS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy
(HR-TEM). XRD measurements confirmed the monoclinic structure of MnO2. Vibrational mode and rotational mode of functional groups
(O–H, CC, C–O, and Mn–O) were evaluated
using FTIR results. Band gap energy and blueshift in the absorption
spectra of MnO2 and GO-doped MnO2 were identified
with UV–vis spectroscopy. Emission spectra were attained using
PL spectroscopy, whereas elemental composition of prepared materials
was recorded with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-EDS. Moreover,
HR-TEM micrographs of doped and undoped MnO2 revealed elongated
nanorod-like structure. Efficient degradation of methylene blue enhanced
the catalytic activity in the presence of a reducing agent (NaBH4); this was attributed to the implantation of GO on MnO2 nanorods. Furthermore, substantial inhibition areas were
measured for Escherichia coli (EC)
ranging 2.10–2.85 mm and 2.50–3.15 mm at decreased and
increased levels for doped MnO2 nanorods and 3.05–4.25
mm and 4.20–5.15 mm for both attentions against SA, respectively.
In silico molecular docking studies suggested the inhibition of FabH
and DNA gyrase of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus as a possible mechanism behind
the bactericidal activity of MnO2 and MnO2-doped
GO nanoparticles (NPs).