Methylene blue dye degradation potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles bioreduced using Solanum trilobatum leaf extract

Ecofriendly synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was carried out using Solanum trilobatum (S. trilobatum) leaf extract as bioreducing agent. SEM images disclosed spherical ZnO NPs formation having a mean diameter of ∼25 nm. EDAX spectrum demonstrated presence of Zn and O elements and absence of peaks corresponding to impurity elements revealed purity of ZnO NPs. X-ray diffraction pattern displayed diffraction peaks associated with hexagonal wurtzite structured ZnO. Rietveld refinement analysis of XRD data revealed that ZnO NPs have hexagonal single phase (P63mc space group). Profile parameters (Rp, Rwp, and χ2) with minimum values designated harmony between calculated and observed diffraction patterns. FTIR spectrum of ZnO NPs signified high intense band at 540.94 cm−1 associated with characteristic stretching of Zn–O bond. Photocatalytic performance of ZnO NPs showed noticeable methylene blue dye decomposition with an efficiency of 94.07% under sunlight illumination. Total organic carbon analysis disclosed considerable reduction in the organic carbon content in the methylene blue dye. Conclusively, S. trilobatum leaf extract can be employed as bioreductant agent to synthesis semiconductor nanomaterials for environmental remediation applications.