Evaluation of physicochemical properties of zinc oxide and indium-tin oxide nanoparticles for photocatalysis and biomedical activities

Metal oxide nanoparticles, such as ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and ITO NPs (indium tin oxide nanoparticles), were generated using the sol-gel and co-precipitation process to demonstrate photocatalytic degradation and antioxidant activities. The produced nanoparticles were examined for structural, morphological, and optical characteristics. ZnO and ITO NPs confirm their nanoscale properties by being smaller in size, ranging from 13 nm to 17 nm on average. The spherical nanoparticles were imaged using TEM, and the particle distribution was determined using a histogram plot. The optical property is a key criterion in determining nanomaterials' photocatalytic activity. UV–vis spectra confirm that the produced nanoparticles are a good candidate for photocatalytic activity. The study reports significant discoveries about the photocatalytic degradation and antioxidant properties of ZnO NPs and their composite with ITO NPs. Under light irradiation, ZnO-ITO NPs exhibit exceptional photocatalytic activity and strong antioxidant properties, effectively scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lowering oxidative stress. According to the findings, ZnO NPs and ZnO NPs-ITO NPs have enormous potential for photocatalytic degradation and antioxidant activities. The effectiveness of photocatalytic degradation of ZnO NPs and ZnO NPs-ITO NPs increases with pH from 4 to 8, with the highest efficiency seen at pH 8. Furthermore, their antioxidant properties make them attractive candidates for use in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications to treat oxidative stress-related diseases. More research and refining of these nanoparticles' properties are needed to fully realize their potential in these sectors.