Green synthesis of Ni0.5Zn0.5O/TiO2 for photocatalytic, antibacterial and anticancer activities

In this study, NiZnO was initially synthesized via the hydrothermal method. This was followed by the incorporation of titanium dioxide into NiZnO through ultrasonication, resulting in a nanocomposite. This nanocomposite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of the NiZnO/TiO2 nanocomposite. Subsequent evaluations of the nanocomposite focused on its photocatalytic, antibacterial, and anticancer activities. The photocatalytic activity was demonstrated through the degradation of Rhodamine B in an aqueous solution under visible light, achieving near-complete degradation within 40 min. This study further explored influential parameters on photocatalytic performance, including pH, degradation time, rate constant of degradation, and the concentrations of both the pollutant and the catalyst, alongside the mechanism and primary role in pollutant degradation. The anticancer activity was assessed against A549 lung cancer cells using the MTT assay, revealing significant efficacy. Lastly, the nanocomposite showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, underscoring its potential for diverse applications.