Zinc oxide and its engineered derivative nanomaterials: Insight into energy, environmental, medical, agricultural, and food applications

Abstract

Zinc oxide and zinc oxide-based nanomaterials are among the top materials in the fields of nanomaterials applications. On the other hand, the current global challenge of providing sustainable energy, a safe environment, well-improved medication, and sustainable agriculture, especially for developing countries, and safe food is becoming increasingly difficult for governments and scientists. In this review, the potential applications of ZnO and ZnO-based nanomaterials in the energy, environmental, medical, agricultural, and food fields were explored. These nanomaterials have been reported to be important materials for energy storage, conversion, harvesting, and efficient solar cell material, while their efficiency and stability can be triggered by doping or compositing them with another material. Their application in pollutant elimination as a photocatalyst, electrocatalyst, and adsorbent has been reported to be promising, while the material regeneration and reuse in this field still need intensive investigation. The various study findings indicated that they are highly applicable in medicine as a drug, drug targeting materials, catalysts in drug synthesis, and efficient antimicrobials. ZnO and its derivative nanomaterials have also been explored and found to be potential fertilizers in agriculture, especially as a source of Zn, while also improving the effective use of other fertilizers through the slow-release technique. In addition, the different study findings showed that they can be used as food packaging materials and also extend the shelf life of food. The results of this study indicate that ZnO and its engineered derivative nanomaterials are promising materials for future renewable energy, safe environments, improved medication, agriculture, and food industries.