OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 11 4 (December 2021) 2021 01 09 Facile fabrication of Au-loaded CdO nanoconstructs with tuned properties for photocatalytic and biomedical applications 10.1007/s40097-020-00384-4 EN Suresh Sagadevan Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, MY Selvaraj Vennila Department of Nanoscience and Technology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, 630 003, IN Lakshmipathy Muthukrishnan Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600077, IN Baranya Murugan Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials, School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, 613 401, IN J. Anita Lett Department of Physics, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, 600119, IN M. A. Motalib Hossain Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, MY Faruq Mohammad Surfactants Research Chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, SA Hamad A. Al-Lohedan Surfactants Research Chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, SA Solhe F. Alshahateet Department of Chemistry, Mutah University, Mutah, Karak, 61710, JO Is Fatimah Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Yogyakarta, ID Journal Article 2021 01 09 Abstract Cadmium oxide (CdO) had long been investigated for decades as prototypical wide-band-gap transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) possessing excellent n -type ability having its implications in the field of photo electronics. Despite this, there exists an uncertainty on the toxicity of CdO content during the synthesis and product retrieval which limits their use in biological applications. In this context, an approach to enhance the inbuilt properties of CdO particles by the means of loading (in coating form) with gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) to generate Au@CdO nanoconstructs (NCs) has been reported. Thus, formed Au@CdO NCs have been characterized by various spectroscopic and electron microscopic analysis for the structural, optical, and biological properties. For example, the UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed a typical λ max of CdO at 302 nm, and for the Au@CdO, a shift toward 496 nm was observed. The diffraction pattern demonstrated the crystalline phase corresponding to (1 1 1) plane with mean grain sizes of 24.9 and 30.6 nm for the CdO and Au@CdO, respectively. The FTIR and optical studies highlighted the intermolecular bonding with an increased bandgap confirming the efficient coating of Au onto CdO. The FESEM demonstrated spherical-to-elliptical-shaped anisotropic particles following the coating of CdO with Au and the grain size getting increased from 30 to 42 nm. On testing of the photocatalytic activity, we found that the Au@CdO NCs efficiently degraded the Rhodamine B dye (96% in 180 min) following the irradiation under artificial UV light. Furthermore, the Au@CdO NCs showed a significant antimicrobial effect at 80 μg/mL associated with a decline in the cell count. Alongside, the IC 50 of Au@CdO against A549 and PBMC cells was fixed at 46.87 and 55.14 μg/mL, respectively. Such multifaceted Au@CdO NCs possessing optical properties might present themselves as the potential candidates for the extended photocatalytic and biomedical applications. Graphic abstract