Improved photocatalytic activity and enhanced germination rate of Oryza sativa and urea sensor development utilizing fabricated NiO·SrCO3·ZnO nanomaterials

Abstract

In this approach, novel NiO·SrCO₃·ZnO nanomaterials (NMs) were synthesized using a facile co-precipitation technique. The produced NMs were characterized using XRD, SEM, EDS, FTIR, PL, and Raman spectroscopy. The average particle size was 32.35 nm, as determined by XRD. The Raman spectrum of NiO·SrCO₃·ZnO exhibited characteristic peaks for NiO (509 cm⁻¹), SrCO₃ (147, 179, 242, 700, and 1071 cm⁻¹), and ZnO (101 and 359 cm⁻¹). The photocatalytic activity of the nanomaterial was assessed using methylene blue (MB) as a model dye under various conditions, including pH, temperature, and reusability in visible light. The highest efficiency was observed to be 98.41% for a 0.06 g L⁻¹ dose of NM in a basic medium (pH 9.2). The growth of pathogenic bacteria, both Gram-positive and Gram-negative, was significantly reduced by the NMs. In this innovative strategy, ternary NiO·SrCO₃·ZnO NMs were utilized for promoting seed germination, which potentially enhanced the germination of Oryza sativa seeds. Therefore, the fabricated NiO·SrCO₃·ZnO NMs have significant promise for use in the development of effective photocatalytic systems and industrial sterilizing agents, and as good promoters of seed germination. This paper also focuses on developing a novel urea sensor employing NiO·SrCO₃·ZnO NMs coated on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with the help of 5% Nafion as a conducting chemical coating binder. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated electrode (NiO·SrCO₃·ZnO NMs/Nafion/GCE) was assessed via I–V techniques, revealing a remarkable sensitivity of 23.5189 µA µM⁻¹ cm⁻² and a linear dynamic range from 0.1 nM to 0.01 mM. The sensor exhibited a limit of detection of 4.31 ± 0.22 pM, underscoring its potential for highly sensitive urea detection amid various applications. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of NiO·SrCO₃·ZnO NMs in enhancing the electrochemical performance of urea sensors.