Aegle Marmelos Extract Synthesis of Zn-MoO3 NPs: Probing of Electrochemical Sensing Actions on Mercury Ions With Photocatalytic Applications

Abstract

This research probes an Aegle marmelos extract mediated synthesis of host-MoO₃ and Zn-MoO₃ nanomaterials (NPs) via a solution combustion route. Structural, morphological, and optical characterization of the fabricated materials was conducted via Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), (SEM-EDX)Scanning Electron Microscope- Energy - Dispersive X -Ray spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), and UV–vis spectral techniques. The synthesized Zn-doped material serves as a cost-effective, sustainable platform for excellent photocatalytic and electrochemical sensing applications. The outcome of optical analysis and Tauc's plots for Zn-MoO₃ (3.5 eV) NPs revealed improved photo-degradation activity than MoO₃ (3.94 eV), confirming the impact of Zn doping in hindered the recombination of e⁻–h⁺ pairs. The superior photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) by Zn-MoO₃ NPs under light irradiation was examined. Its degradation efficiency was found to be 94.8% at 105 min, conforming to pseudo-first-order kinetics (k =  0.0204 min⁻¹). The electrochemical sensing action of modified Zn-MoO₃ NPs was examined on mercury ions (1–5 mm) at 30 mV/s in 0.1 m KCl. LOD and LOQ measurements of Zn-MoO₃ NPs were determined to be 0.12 & 0.367 mm respectively, with high current at −0.18 V. These measurements direct a route for photocatalytic and electrochemical sensor applications.