AgI/Ag/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites with antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani in tropical plants
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract This study reports the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of AgI/Ag/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites as a visible-light-driven photocatalytic antifungal agent against Rhizoctonia solani , a major pathogenic fungus affecting tropical crops. The nanocomposites were fabricated via thermal decomposition followed by in situ reduction and precipitation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the coexistence of Ag + /Ag 0 species, forming a dynamic redox cycle that promotes efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes, thereby enhancing photocatalytic activity. A notable methodological contribution of this work is the application of Python-based linear fitting for Tauc plot analysis, ensuring high precision and consistency in bandgap determination. Compared with pristine g-C 3 N 4 , Ag/AgI incorporation induced progressive optical bandgap narrowing, indicating effective modulation of the electronic structure. This bandgap tuning improved visible-light absorption and facilitated reactive oxygen species generation, contributing to enhanced photocatalytic performance. The bandgap energies of 1AgI/Ag/g-C 3 N 4 , 2AgI/Ag/g-C 3 N 4 and 3AgI/Ag/g-C 3 N 4 , containing 8.57%, 4.01%, and 18.13% Ag, were estimated to be 2.31, 2.25, and 2.21 eV, respectively, which are lower than that of pristine g-C 3 N 4 (2.50 eV). Antifungal assays demonstrated outstanding efficacy, with the 3AgI/Ag/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite achieving complete (100%) inhibition of R. solani at 1500 ppm after 60 h of incubation, while other foliar fungi remained viable. The enhanced antifungal activity is attributed to the synergistic effects of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles and efficient charge separation induced by the AgI/Ag/g-C 3 N 4 interfacial architecture. These observations highlight the strong potential of AgI/Ag/g-C 3 N 4 as a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional chemical fungicides in tropical agriculture.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · TiO2 Photocatalysis and Solar Cells · Carbon and Quantum Dots Applications
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Van Lang University
Saigon University
Hanoi National University of Education
Funding
The APC of this article has been paid by the corresponding author.
References (63)
Show source-provided references
1. Antifungal agents in agriculture: friends and foes of public health10.3390/biom9100521 ↗
2. The Top 10 fungal pathogens in molecular plant pathology10.1111/j.1364-3703.2011.00783.x ↗
3. Recent approaches towards control of fungal diseases in plants: an updated review10.3390/jof7110900 ↗
4. Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn pathophysiology: status and prospects of sheath blight disease management in rice10.3389/fpls.2022.881116 ↗
5. Recent advances and remaining barriers to producing novel formulations of fungicides for safe and sustainable agriculture10.1016/j.jconrel.2020.07.035 ↗
6. Plants as an alternative to the use of chemicals for crop protection against biotic threats: trends and future perspectives10.1007/s10658-024-02924-y ↗
7. G-C3N4@TiO2@Fe3O4 Multifunctional Nanomaterial for Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction and Photocatalytic Degradation-Based Removal of Trimethoprim and Isoniazid10.1021/acsomega.2c01311 ↗
8. Design of AgI/BiVO4 heterostructures for photocatalytic antibiotic removal and antimicrobial action10.1088/2053-1591/adf70a ↗
9. Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Ag-Doped WO3 for Antibiotic and Bacterial Removal in Fishpond10.1155/are/6634836 ↗
10. Metal oxides and their composites for the remediation of organic pesticides: advanced photocatalytic and adsorptive solutions10.1039/D4RA08149H ↗
11. Enhanced degradation performance of Ag-loaded BiOI composite photocatalysts for water pollutant removal10.1007/s42452-024-06420-0 ↗
12. Fabrication of La, Ce co-doped ZnO nanorods for improving photodegradation of methylene blue10.1016/j.jre.2023.02.001 ↗
13. Magnetic g-C3N4/NiFe2O4 composite with enhanced activity on photocatalytic disinfection of Aspergillus flavus10.1016/j.cej.2021.129417 ↗
14. Facile Synthesis and Characterization of Cupric Oxide Loaded 2D Structure Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) Nanocomposite: in Vitro Anti-Bacterial and Fungal Interaction Studies10.3390/jof9030310 ↗
15. The potency of graphitic carbon nitride (gC3N4) and bismuth sulphide nanoparticles (Bi2S3) in the management of foliar fungal pathogens of maize10.3390/app13063731 ↗
16. Recent progress in g-C3N4-Based photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation: strategies to improve photocatalytic10.3390/catal15020148 ↗
17. Modification strategies of g-C3N4-Based materials for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic degradation of pollutants: a review10.3390/inorganics13070225 ↗
18. Unveiling the photocatalytic potential of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4): a state-of-the-art review10.1039/d4ra04234d ↗
19. Nanostructured g-C3N4/AgI composites assembled by AgI nanoparticles-decorated g-C3N4 nanosheets for effective and mild photooxidation reaction10.1039/C9NJ02725D ↗
20. Enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of novel polymeric g-C3N4 loaded with Ag nanoparticles10.1016/j.apcata.2011.10.006 ↗
21. Ag loading enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 porous nanosheets for decomposition of organic pollutants10.3389/fchem.2019.00091 ↗
22. Exploring the physicochemical properties and antifungal activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles10.1080/10667857.2024.2439832 ↗
23. Orshiso T A and Atisme T B 2025 Biphasic g-C3N4–AgI nanocomposites and their applications in methylene orange degradation, the hydrogen evolution reaction and antimicrobial activity10.1016/j.jsamd.2025.101026 ↗
24. Ag-modified, Fe, and Cu-doped ZnO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalyst with enhanced activity toward degradation of pollutant and hydrogen evolution10.1016/j.susmat.2025.e01360 ↗
25. Transition metals-doped g-C3N4 nanostructures as advanced photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141354 ↗
26. Building of a ternary AgI/ZIF-8/g-C3N4 heterojunction for efficient photodecomposition of organic pollutants in batch and split-plate airlift reactors10.1016/j.cscee.2024.100909 ↗
27. AgCl/Ag/g-C3N4 Hybrid Composites: preparation, Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity and Mechanism10.1007/s40820-015-0076-y ↗
28. Silver (Ag) doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalyst for enhanced degradation of Ciprofloxacin (CIP) under visible light irradiation10.1016/j.arabjc.2024.105615 ↗
29. Ag-Modified g-C3N4 Prepared by a one−step calcination method for enhanced catalytic efficiency and stability10.1021/acsomega.0c02161 ↗
30. Facile Green Synthesis of Ag@g-C3N4 for Enhanced Photocatalytic and Catalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutant10.1007/s10876-020-01816-5 ↗
31. Synthesis of g-C3N4 Derived from Different Precursors for Photodegradation of Sulfamethazine under Visible Light10.3390/pr11020528 ↗
32. Assembly of AgI nanoparticles and ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets codecorated Bi2WO6 direct dual Z-scheme photocatalyst: an efficient, sustainable, and heterogeneous catalyst with enhanced photocatalytic performance10.1016/j.cej.2019.05.069 ↗
33. Ag3VO4/AgI composites for photocatalytic degradation of dyes and tetracycline hydrochloride under visible light10.1016/j.matlet.2018.01.035 ↗
34. Large-scale synthesis of β-AgI nanocrystals10.1016/S0167-577X(02)00540-2 ↗
35. Analysis of Crystallographic Structures and Properties of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using PKL Extract and Nanoscale Characterization Techniques10.1021/acsomega.3c01261 ↗
36. Green Synthesis of Flower-Like Carrageenan-Silver Nanoparticles and Elucidation of Its Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties10.3390/molecules28020907 ↗
37. Bang H T and Thuan C N 2024 ZnO/TiO2 photocatalytic nanocomposite for dye and bacteria removal in wastewater10.1088/2053-1591/ad6bf2 ↗
38. The theory of Ostwald ripening10.1007/BF01017860 ↗
39. Theoretical Model for Ostwald Ripening of Nanoparticles with Size-Linear Capture Coefficients10.3390/nano15221719 ↗
40. Fundamental growth principles of colloidal metal nanoparticles—a new perspective10.1039/C5CE01014D ↗
41. Facile fabrication of sandwich-like BiOI/AgI/g-C3N4 composites for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange and reduction of Cr(VI)10.1007/s11051-018-4431-z ↗
42. Au nanoparticles-doped g-C3N4 nanocomposites for enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light illumination10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.05.250 ↗
43. Bio-inspired synthesis of Ag-g-C3N4 nanocomposites and their application for photocatalytic degradation of para-nitrophenol10.1016/j.colsurfa.2024.135739 ↗
44. Novel ternary g-C3N4 nanosheet/Ag2MoO4/AgI photocatalysts: impressive photocatalysts for removal of various contaminants10.1016/j.jphotochem.2020.112871 ↗
45. 2020Highly efficient g-C3N4/Cr-ZnO nanocomposites with superior photocatalytic and antibacterial activity10.1016/j.jphotochem.2020.112776 ↗
46. In situ fabrication of ultrathin-g-C3N4/AgI heterojunctions with improved catalytic performance for photodegrading rhodamine B solution10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.148132 ↗
47. Optimal synthesis of Ag modified g-C3N4 for improved visible light photocatalytic performance and self-cleaning applications10.1016/j.diamond.2024.110974 ↗
48. Clark-carter · 2010 · 264
49. Ionization energy in the periodic table of elements
50. Electron affinity in the periodic table of elements
51. Comparison of Ag and AgI-modified ZnO as heterogeneous photocatalysts for simulated sunlight driven photodegradation of metronidazole10.3390/catal10091097 ↗
52. Green synthesis and characterization of Ag/CuO nanoparticles: exploring their antifungal, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties10.1016/j.eti.2025.104147 ↗
53. Enhanced disinfection application of Ag-modified g-C3N4 composite under visible light10.1016/j.apcatb.2015.12.051 ↗
54. Ag Nanoparticles/α-Ag2WO4 Composite Formed by Electron Beam and Femtosecond Irradiation as Potent Antifungal and Antitumor10.1038/s41598-019-46159-y ↗
55. In-situ synthesis and synergistic effect of Ag/Al@SrFe12O19 decorated with graphitic carbon nitride: mechanistic insight of photocatalytic and antimicrobial susceptibility10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107203 ↗
56. Antifungal activity of silver ions and nanoparticles on phytopathogenic fungi10.1094/PDIS-93-10-1037 ↗
57. Preparation of silver nanoparticle fabrics against multidrug-resistant bacteria Radiat10.1016/j.radphyschem.2015.12.024 ↗
58. Multifunctional Fe and Fe-Mn nanostructured graphitic carbon nitrides (g-C3N4): photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and radiation shielding10.1016/j.surfin.2025.107595 ↗
59. Elkady F M and Elbahnasawy M A 2022 Antifungal activity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Aspergilli causing Aspergillosis: ultrastructure study10.3390/jfb13040242 ↗
60. Ternary g-C3N4/ZnO/AgCl nanocomposites: synergistic collaboration on visible-light-driven activity in photodegradation of an organic pollutant10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.08.149 ↗
61. Chinnathambi A and lmoallim H S 2021 Synthesis of novel ternary hybrid g-C3N4@Ag-ZnO nanocomposite with Z-scheme enhanced solar light-driven methylene blue degradation and antibacterial activities10.1016/j.jece.2021.105366 ↗
62. The antifungal activity and mechanism of silver nanoparticles against four pathogens causing kiwifruit post-harvest rot10.3389/fmicb.2022.988633 ↗
63. Comparative study and transcriptomic analysis on the antifungal mechanism of Ag nanoparticles and nanowires against Trichosporon asahii10.2147/IJN.S474299 ↗