Production and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles for photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

Zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnONPs) are used in many environmental improvement areas, especially in biomedicine, applications, and photocatalysts, due to their superior physical and chemical properties. In this study, ZnO-NPs were produced using the hydrothermal technique. The physical, biological, and photocatalytic properties of synthesized ZnONPs were investigated. For the physical characterization of these particles, their structural, morphological, and optical properties were made using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy, respectively. As a result of X-ray diffraction analysis, it was determined that the synthesized nanoparticles were in a hexagonal wurtzite structure. Some structural parameters such as crystallization level, cleft width, and grain size were calculated. Absorption and transmittance spectra were obtained and forbidden band gap, Urbach energy, refractive index, and extinction coefficient values of nanoparticles were calculated. Elemental analysis and the surface morphology of these particles was investigated using FESEM-EDS. In addition, the agar disc diffusion method was used for its biological properties. The antibacterial activity of ZnONPs was determined by using eigth different test microorganisms (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Candida albigans, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Eosinophilic pneumonia, Staphilococus Aereus) for antibacterial applications. In addition, the photocatalytic activities of ZnONPs were tested for cleaved methylene blue in an aqueous solution and the degradation test was performed at different time intervals using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. As a result of the catalyst effect of ZnONPs, the photocatalytic efficiency was determined as 87 %.