Unveiling the synthesis, characteristics, electrical conductivity, photocatalytic activity, and electrochemical activity of eco-friendly zinc oxide nanoparticles

Abstract

The Nigella Sativa seeds were utilized for the environment-friendly zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), as evident by the observation of a white precipitate. Numerous analytical techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, UV–vis, SEM, and EDX, were utilized to describe the specimen's structural, optical, and electrical properties. XRD analysis was used to confirm that the ZnO NPs were crystalline. An absorbance peak at 401 nm was observed in the UV–vis, indicating that the ZnO NPs have a 2.91 eV bandgap. Functional groups are present in ZnO NPs, as seen by the FTIR graph. The nanoparticles' spherical form and average size of 37.9 nm were confirmed by the SEM image. EDX analysis confirmed the composition of the nanoparticles, with zinc accounting for 73.17% and oxygen for 26.83%. ZnO NPs demonstrated excellent electrical conductivity because of their higher surface-to-volume ratio. Additionally, the synthesis of ZnO NPs exhibited effective degradation of methylene blue dye. These results point to potential applications in several domains, including electronics, biomedical devices, industry, and agriculture, and they call for immediate follow-up research.