Green synthesis and characterization of zirconium oxide nanoparticles using solanum trilobatum and its photodegradation activity

Green synthesis methods offer a sustainable alternative to conventional nanoparticle production, minimizing hazardous byproducts and contributing to environmental preservation. This study focuses on the eco-friendly synthesis of zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO NPs) using an aqueous leaf extract of Solanum trilobatum, a plant not previously explored for nanoparticle production. The synthesized ZrO NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques including Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), UV–visible Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The XRD analysis revealed a crystallite size of approximately 94 nm, confirming the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. FT-IR spectra indicated the presence of organic functional groups on the nanoparticle surface, suggesting the involvement of plant metabolites in the synthesis process. FE-SEM images demonstrated the spherical shape and particle size distribution of the ZrO NPs, ranging from 80 to 90 nm. UV–visible Spectroscopy shows a light brown structure with a surface plasmon band absorbed near to 383 nm revealed ZrO-Nps synthesis. Under solar radiation, the synthesized ZrO-Nps demonstrated a 50 % reduction in reactive red 120, and methylene orange, demonstrating a good photodegradation efficiency is presented in this research. These findings suggest that the green-synthesized ZrO NPs exhibit promising photocatalytic properties, particularly in reactions involving visible light, highlighting their potential for environmental applications such as pollution degradation and energy conversion.