Environmentally friendly synthesis of Cr2O3 nanoparticles: characterization, applications and future perspective ─ a review

Abstract Chromic oxide nanoparticles (Cr2O3 NPs) are one of the notable inorganic NPs with outstanding features for several branches of modern science and technologies. Various fabrication approaches have been employed in the production of Cr2O3 NPs so as to meet its crucial potential. The ecological impacts and economic obstacles connected to most of the means of Cr2O3 NPs synthesis have contributed to the search for other alternative approaches with economic and environmental advantages. Surprisingly, the biological approaches to manufacturing using plant materials have been found suitable for the synthesis of Cr2O3 NPs dues to its myriad health, environmental, economic, and medicinal advantages. The important aspects of Cr2O3 NPs fabricated using plant broths and biomass augmented its application in antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, antileshmanial, antiviral, and antidiabetic. In the area of electronics, chemistry and medicine, phytosynthesized Cr2O3 NPs have attracted tremendous usage in the fabrication of antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, antileshmanial, antiviral, antidiabetic, photocatalytic agents as well as fabrication of microelectronic circuits, sensors, solar energy collectors and fuel cells. Notwithstanding, the enlisted advantages of biogenically produced Cr2O3 NPs, the challenges involved in the clarification of formation reaction still remain unsolved. This review presented the overview of the modern improvements in the synthesis, characterization methods, and applications of phytosynthesized Cr2O3 NPs in medicine, and pharmaceutical industries.