Rapid synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles via microwave-assisted method for photocatalysis application

ZnO nanoparticles is a semiconducting metal oxide that have been widely used as a photocatalyst material for organic pollutant degradation. A facile method was developed to synthesis ZnO nanoparticles via microwave-assisted, with a shorter time production compared to the common sol-gel method. Zinc oxide was synthesized by dissolving different amounts of zinc acetate (1.1, 2.2, 3.3, and 4.4 g) in methanol, with the pH adjusted to 11. The solution underwent ultrasonication for 10 minutes to ensure uniformity and was then heated in a microwave at 70°C for 5 minutes. Afterward, the mixture was filtered, and the residue was rinsed with distilled water to neutralize it. The solid was dried in an oven at 110°C to obtain ZnO nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were then analyzed using FTIR, SEM, and XRD analysis. The FTIR spectra and XRD patterns verified the successful formation of ZnO nanoparticles, while SEM images showed that the nanoparticles were spherical, with an average diameter of 36.39 nm. The investigation of photocatalytic performance showed that ZnO can decrease the methyl orange dye concentration up to 35.98% (initial concentration of 10 ppm) for 120 min under visible light. Thus, the prepared ZnO could be used as a promising material for application in industrial wastewater treatment processes.