A fast and facile microwave irradiation method for the synthesis of ZnO@ZrO2 core-shell nanocomposites and the investigation of their optical properties

[email protected]2 core-shell nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared by a novel and accessible path employing microwave (MW) irradiation to regulate photocatalytic property of ZnO. The synthesized [email protected]2 NCs were further examined to discern their optical and chemical properties by FT-IR, XPS, XRF, XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, UV–vis, and PL analysis. XPS data analysis confirmed the presence of zirconium and oxygen on the coated surface. An almost similar zeta potential curve was observed for the pure ZrO2 and ZrO2 coated ZnO NCs, predicting the presence of the ZrO2 layer on ZnO. Photoluminescence studies show the enhanced intensity of [email protected]2 nanostructure compared to uncoated ZnO. Photocatalytic activity of ZnO could be controlled by the amorphous ZrO2 layer, which was guaranteed by the photo mineralization of methylene blue under UV irradiation at room temperature.