Photocatalytic and antimicrobial studies of green synthesized Dy3+doped ZnO nanoparticles prepared from Rhododendron arboreum petal extract

Abstract

In this study, the primary focus revolves around the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) and dysprosium-doped zinc oxide (Dy-doped ZnO) nanoparticles utilizing a green chemistry approach, employing Rhododendron arboreum petal extract as a key component. A thorough characterization of nanoparticles has been carried out, involving a range of analytical techniques including UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. The structural examination confirmed the persistent hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO nanoparticles, which remained unaltered even with Dy doping. The XPS analysis corroborated the presence of lattice oxygen in addition to confirming the presence of Dy3+ and Zn2+. The results indicated that the incorporation of Dy3+ ions replaces Zn2+ ions in host ZnO leading to an increase in the defects inside ZnO. Based on HRTEM images, the particle size was determined to be 31 nm for ZnO nanoparticles and 39 nm for Dy-doped ZnO nanoparticles. FESEM imaging unveils a morphology reminiscent of pebbles, and EDX spectra provide additional evidence of the presence of Zn, Dy, and O elements within the nanoparticles, which aligns with the findings from XPS. Subsequently, these synthesized nanoparticles were harnessed for the remediation of novacron brown, a textile dye. Additionally, nanoparticles were explored for their antibacterial and antifungal properties which highlight the considerable potential of these nanoparticles in these specific domains.