Green Synthesis and Characterization of a ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction for Environmental and Biological Applications

The zinc oxide–zirconium dioxide (ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub>) heterojunction was prepared by a green method using rubber leaves as reducing and capping agents. Various physicochemical techniques were used to study the chemical composition and the structural and optical properties of the synthes...

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Main Authors: Sirajul Haq, Humma Afsar, Manel Ben Ali, Mohammed Almalki, Bander Albogami, Amor Hedfi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Crystals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/12/1502
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author Sirajul Haq
Humma Afsar
Manel Ben Ali
Mohammed Almalki
Bander Albogami
Amor Hedfi
author_facet Sirajul Haq
Humma Afsar
Manel Ben Ali
Mohammed Almalki
Bander Albogami
Amor Hedfi
author_sort Sirajul Haq
collection DOAJ
description The zinc oxide–zirconium dioxide (ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub>) heterojunction was prepared by a green method using rubber leaves as reducing and capping agents. Various physicochemical techniques were used to study the chemical composition and the structural and optical properties of the synthesized nanocomposite. The nature of the heterojunction was confirmed through X-ray diffraction and the average sizes of ZnO and ZrO<sub>2</sub> crystallites were found to be 70 and 24 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic potential of the ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> heterojunction was examined against rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G), and 97.30 percent of the dye was degraded due to the synergistic effect of the light and the catalyst. The commercial ZnO nanopowder was used as a reference catalyst and 86.32 percent degradation was noted under the same reaction conditions. The in vitro antioxidant activity was also performed to scavenge the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals, where the activity of the ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> heterojunction was found to be higher than the ascorbic acid.
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spelling doaj.art-e5cec4b9c9144a6f8cf1069a370aaab02023-11-23T07:48:37ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522021-12-011112150210.3390/cryst11121502Green Synthesis and Characterization of a ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction for Environmental and Biological ApplicationsSirajul Haq0Humma Afsar1Manel Ben Ali2Mohammed Almalki3Bander Albogami4Amor Hedfi5Department of Chemistry, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, PakistanDepartment of Chemistry, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad 13100, PakistanDepartment of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi ArabiaThe zinc oxide–zirconium dioxide (ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub>) heterojunction was prepared by a green method using rubber leaves as reducing and capping agents. Various physicochemical techniques were used to study the chemical composition and the structural and optical properties of the synthesized nanocomposite. The nature of the heterojunction was confirmed through X-ray diffraction and the average sizes of ZnO and ZrO<sub>2</sub> crystallites were found to be 70 and 24 nm, respectively. The photocatalytic potential of the ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> heterojunction was examined against rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G), and 97.30 percent of the dye was degraded due to the synergistic effect of the light and the catalyst. The commercial ZnO nanopowder was used as a reference catalyst and 86.32 percent degradation was noted under the same reaction conditions. The in vitro antioxidant activity was also performed to scavenge the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) free radicals, where the activity of the ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> heterojunction was found to be higher than the ascorbic acid.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/12/1502green synthesiszinc oxidezirconium dioxidecharacterizationphotocatalystsantioxidant
spellingShingle Sirajul Haq
Humma Afsar
Manel Ben Ali
Mohammed Almalki
Bander Albogami
Amor Hedfi
Green Synthesis and Characterization of a ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction for Environmental and Biological Applications
Crystals
green synthesis
zinc oxide
zirconium dioxide
characterization
photocatalysts
antioxidant
title Green Synthesis and Characterization of a ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction for Environmental and Biological Applications
title_full Green Synthesis and Characterization of a ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction for Environmental and Biological Applications
title_fullStr Green Synthesis and Characterization of a ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction for Environmental and Biological Applications
title_full_unstemmed Green Synthesis and Characterization of a ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction for Environmental and Biological Applications
title_short Green Synthesis and Characterization of a ZnO-ZrO<sub>2</sub> Heterojunction for Environmental and Biological Applications
title_sort green synthesis and characterization of a zno zro sub 2 sub heterojunction for environmental and biological applications
topic green synthesis
zinc oxide
zirconium dioxide
characterization
photocatalysts
antioxidant
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/11/12/1502
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