Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using aqueous Brassica oleracea L. var. italica and the photocatalytic activity

This study reports the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using the aqueous solution of broccoli extract. The nanoparticles, represented as broc-ZnO (with broccoli extract) and nb-ZnO (without broccoli extract), were obtained after calcination. The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform infra-red (FTIR), Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), UV-visible spectroscopy (UV) and Photoluminescence (PL). Hexagonal phases were identified for both nanoparticles, while average crystallite sizes of 14 and 17 nm for broc-ZnO and nb-ZnO, respectively, were obtained. UV studies indicated the bandgap of the broc-ZnO and nb-ZnO as 4.09 and 3.87 eV, respectively. A plausible mechanism for the synthesis of the nanoparticles was suggested. The photocatalytic efficiency of broc-ZnO, obtained via the broccoli extract, was evaluated by studying its photo-enhanced catalytic activity against methylene blue (MB) and phenol red (PR), under UV light irradiation and 74% and 71% degradation efficiency of the successive dyes were achieved.