Phyto-fabrication of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Ficus religiosa and its potential application in degradation of crystal violet dye

Abstract

Herein zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have been synthesized via a facile, environment friendly, and low-cost green synthesis method. The prepared metal oxide was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), SEM/EDX (scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray), volumetric analysis, and zeta potential measurements. The photocatalyst was then employed for the degradation of crystal violet (CV) dye under UV illumination (high-pressure Hg lamp 125 W). It was observed that phyto-fabricated ZnO nanoparticles exhibited high degradation efficiency towards CV dye as 95% of dye was degraded in 60 min of irradiation. The study also implies that phyto-fabrication of ZnO nanoparticles resulted in enhanced degradation efficiency of the photocatalyst.