Work

Nanoflower-Shaped ZnO Nanoparticles Reduced with Blueberry Waste and Their Evaluation of Malachite Green Dye Degradation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This work focuses on the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to be used as a photocatalyst, preparing a blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) extract as a reducing agent, zinc chloride as a precursor, and NaOH as precipitating agent (1, 7 and 14 M). Characterization techniques included X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The XRD analysis confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite crystalline structure of ZnO NPs, while the SEM and TEM revealed a flower-like morphology. Moreover, the ZnO NPs exhibited a band gap energy in the range of 3.17 to 3.27 eV, depending on the concentration of NaOH. Regarding the photocatalytic activity, the synthesized ZnO NPs showed a photocatalytic efficiency greater than 90%, degrading malachite green (MG) dye in 60 min under sunlight. The proposed photocatalytic mechanism includes reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (hydroxyl radicals (OH•) and superoxide radicals (O2−)). The XRD and Raman analysis also revealed that the ZnO NPs maintained structural integrity after repeated photocatalytic cycles, emphasizing their stability and suitability for practical applications.

Source: Ceramics

DOI: 10.3390/ceramics8010019