Self-assembled ZnO nanoflowers for photocatalysis, antifungal and antibacterial applications

Abstract Recent advancements in nanotechnology have facilitated the development of intricately specialized nanostructured materials with distinct physicochemical properties. In this study, CTAB and PVP-assisted zinc oxide nanoflowers (ZnO NFs) via co-precipitation. The synthesized ZnO NFs were flower-shaped and possessed a crystalline wurtzite hexagonal phase, as inferred through morphological and structural characterizations. The chemical composition of the ZnO NFs have been validated using optical properties and pure phase. Under direct sunlight, the photocatalytic degradation of the dye, reactive blue-81 (RB-81), was investigated, and 95% of the degradation was observed within 90 min. ZnO NFs are anticipated to exhibit improved photocatalytic activity because of their high oxygen vacancy content and greater surface area. Furthermore, ZnO NFs possess antifungal and antibacterial potential against Aspergillus niger and Escherichia coli, respectively. DNA cleavage activity was also assessed through gel electrophoresis. Therefore, the present study provides a ZnO NFs-based sustainable platform for environmental remediation and biological applications.