Utilizing green nanomaterials in a biomimetic setting to treat wastewater emulates the sustainability and efficiency of natural systems. In this study, wood apple (WA) outer shell extract was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent in a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly green approach to synthesize Ag nanoparticles (NPs), ZnO NPs, and Ag@ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) as potential photocatalysts for the degradation of an industrial dye known as Brilliant Blue (BB). Synthesis parameters of Ag NPs, ZnO NPs, and Ag@ZnO NCs were evaluated in this research utilizing various analytical methods. Surface plasmon resonance peaks for Ag NPs, ZnO NPs, and Ag@ZnO NCs were observed at 400–470 nm, 320–370 nm, and 400–500 nm, respectively. The appearance of a Fourier transform infrared band in the 500–700 cm-1 region is attributed to the Zn-O bond stretching mode, indicating the formation of ZnO NPs and Ag@ZnO NCs. The SEM images of WA-mediated Ag NPs, ZnO NPs, and Ag@ZnO NCs illustrate spherical, flake, and flower-shapes, respectively, while the average sizes of these three types of particles are determined to be 15.04 ± 5.40 nm, 82.40 ± 3.24 nm, and 12.08 ± 2.91 nm, respectively, as per transmission electron microscopic investigation. Moreover, X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the synthesis of pure crystalline structures, with a face-centered cubic structure for Ag and a hexagonal wurtzite structure for ZnO NPs during the synthesis of Ag@ZnO NCs. The biogenic WA-mediated ZnO NPs show a remarkable photodegradation efficiency of 65.8% under the optimum conditions of catalytic load, pH, and dye concentration, whereas WA-mediated Ag NPs and Ag@ZnO NC show 13.9% and 63.7% photodegradation efficiency, respectively, at 240 min. The study reveals that WA-mediated ZnO NPs and Ag@ZnO NCs exhibit nearly identical photo-catalytic activity against the BB dye, presenting new opportunities for sustainable use in textile and wastewater treatment.
Previous Article in event
Previous Article in session
Next Article in event
Next Article in session
Biogenic Synthesis of Ag Nanoparticles, ZnO Nanoparticles, and Ag@ZnO Nanocomposites as Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Brilliant Blue Dye
Published:
15 May 2024
by MDPI
in The 1st International Online Conference on Biomimetics
session Biomimetics of Materials and Structures
Abstract:
Keywords: Ag NPs; Ag@ ZnO NCs; Brilliant Blue; Photocatalytic activity; Wood apple; ZnO NPs