Photocatalytic Properties of Sol–Gel Films Influenced by Aging Time for Cefuroxime Decomposition

Dip-coating and sol–gel techniques are used to apply ZnO sol–gel films to glass substrates. The primary ingredient used to produce the film is zinc acetate dihydrate. The ZnO sample is prepared for 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 30 days. To deposit nanocrystalline thin films, several gels are used. The films’ structural and photocatalytic properties are examined in relation to the ZnO solid’s aging time. UV–vis spectroscopy is used to evaluate the catalytic degradation of the antibiotic cefuroxime (CFX) in tap and distilled water, taking into account the initial solution’s aging duration. Every experiment is carried out under ultraviolet light illumination. These findings demonstrate that ZnO’s photocatalytic activity generally prolongs the initial solution. When compared to freshly prepared films, films made from a ZnO sample for 30 days showed the highest photocatalytic degradation of the medication under UV light. Overall, the photocatalytic activity of ZnO is increased by increasing the aging time of the starting solution. All samples and the photocatalytic test findings are reproducible.