A Review of Plant-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles for Photodegradation and Antibacterial Applications

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 14; no. 14; p. 1182
• Main Authors: Mutukwa, Dorcas, Taziwa, Raymond Tichaona, Khotseng, Lindiwe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 11.07.2024
• Subjects: Ablation; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Atoms & subatomic particles; biosynthesis; Cancer; Catalytic activity; Chemical synthesis; Cosmetics; Drug resistance; dye treatment; Dyes; Energy consumption; Environmental degradation; green synthesis; Lasers; Light emitting diodes; Metal oxides; Methods; Microscopy; Molecular beam epitaxy; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Parameters; Particle size; Photocatalysis; Photodegradation; Plant extracts; Pollution; Radiation; Reagents; Reviews; Sustainable materials; Temperature; wastewater treatment; Zinc oxide; antibacterial agents; plant extracts; wastewater treatment; biosynthesis; immobilisation; supports; hydrogels; green synthesis; photocatalysis; dye treatment
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano14141182

This review focuses on the synthesis of plant-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and their applications for antibacterial and photocatalytic degradation of dyes, thereby addressing the need for sustainable and eco-friendly methods for the preparation of NPs. Driven by the significant rise in antibiotic resistance and environmental pollution from dye pollution, there is a need for more effective antibacterial agents and photocatalysts. Therefore, this review explores the synthesis of plant-mediated ZnO NPs, and the influence of reaction parameters such as pH, annealing temperature, plant extract concentration, etc. Additionally, it also looks at the application of plant-mediated ZnO NPs for antibacterial and photodegradation of dyes, focusing on the influence of the properties of the plant-mediated ZnO NPs such as size, shape, and bandgap on the antibacterial and photocatalytic activity. The findings suggest that properties such as shape and size are influenced by reaction parameters and these properties also influence the antibacterial and photocatalytic activity of plant-mediated ZnO NPs. This review concludes that plant-mediated ZnO NPs have the potential to advance green and sustainable materials in antibacterial and photocatalysis applications.