Facile Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with Antibacterial, Humidity Sensing and Photocatalytic Behaviour

Abstract

Synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles was carried out by simple co-precipitation technique. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized by powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for phase analysis, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology, Dynamic light scattering (DLS) for particle size analysis, Ultra-violet absorption spectra for optical properties. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was assessed against both the gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were test pathogens under study that were tested for its bacterial growth against synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. The ZnO nanoparticles shows prominent zone of inhibition towards growth of bacteria's. The humidity sensing capability of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was analyzed at different relative humidity ranges. It exhibits the sensitivity factor of 922 with quick response and recovery characteristics. The photocatalytic ability was analyzed using synthesized ZnO nanoparticles as photocatalyst for the degradation of an organic dye -Rhodamine B (Rh B) under visible light source. The degradation efficiency was above 98% within 45 minutes of irradiation, this proves the stupendous degradation of the Rh B dye solution.