Starch stabilized Mg(OH)₂ nanosheets encapsulated in g-C₃N₄: A bifunctional catalyst for oxygen evolution reaction and antibacterial activity evidential molecular docking study

Herein, starch (St) capped magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) nanosheets (NSs) encapsulated within graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) framework were effectively synthesized as an efficient electrode material for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and antibacterial agent against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The study aims to stabilize Mg(OH)₂ NSs, improving charge transfer, increasing accessible active sites, and surface area by forming interconnected porous structure with the addition of St and g-C₃N₄ to boost the electrocatalytic OER and antibacterial activity. The 4 wt.% g-C₃N₄/St-Mg(OH)₂ loaded nickel foam electrode achieves a benchmark current density of 10 mA/cm² requiring an overpotential of 193 mV, the lowest Tafel slope (86.8 mV/dec), and the lower charge transfer resistance. The electrode demonstrates stable chronoamperometric profile for 65 h showing excellent stability in an alkaline electrolyte. Antibacterial activity against E. coli was assessed by measuring inhibition zone using agar well diffusion technique. The as synthesized 4% g-C₃N₄/St-Mg(OH)₂ demonstrated enhanced antibacterial efficacy % for MDR E. coli (89.5%) with an inhibition zone as 5.15 ± 0.65 mm. Additionally, DNA gyrase B of E. coli was investigated to explore the mechanism through computational flexible docking.