Sustainable Green Synthesis of Zirconia Nanoparticles and Their Multifunctional Applications in Environmental Remediation

The present study reports the sustainable green synthesis of zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) nanoparticles using a plant-mediated eco-friendly approach and explores their multifunctional applications in environmental. Nanoparticles of zirconia are considered to be among the most important metal oxide nanoparticles because of the numerous applications they have in the field of biomedical science. These applications include dentistry, medication transport, and catalytic science, which include environmental cleanup and chemical synthesis. In the current research work the nanoparticles of crystalline ZrO₂ were produced through the utilization of an optimized concentration of zirconyl nitrate ZrN₂O₇·xH₂O through the approach of green synthesis. This approach of green synthesis provides an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional synthesis processes by minimizing hazardous waste and employing renewable resources. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of the synthesized ZrO₂ nanoparticles. Peaks occur at 2θ = 31.6, 38.1, 45.6, 51.7 corresponding to the (111), (120), (211) and (220) indicating the formation of the monoclinic crystal phase of ZrO₂ having space group P2 1/a and cell dimensions a = 5.312, b = 5.212 and c = 5.147 Å [JCPDS No. 37-1484] The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue utilizing ZrO₂ nanoparticles was investigated under UV light irradiation. FTIR spectra analysis shows the characteristic bands at 722 and 574 cm−1 indicate the presence of Zr-O-Zr bending vibration which confirms the formation of ZrO2structure. The UV-Vis absorption spectra reveal a significant quantization with a band gap of 5.25 eV. FESEM observations revealed nearly spherical (~136 nm) and uniformly distributed nanostructures with reduced agglomeration. Optical investigations demonstrated favorable band gap characteristics and defect-mediated charge transfer behavior, indicating their suitability for photocatalytic applications.