ZnO based photocatalysts for pesticides degradation

Abstract

The widespread application of pesticides in modern agriculture has significantly boosted crop production; however, their inherent toxicity, persistence, and resistance to conventional cleanup methods have led to serious environmental and public health concerns. Advanced oxidation processes (AOP), especially those utilizing visible light for photocatalysis, have recently emerged as promising eco-friendly alternatives for the degradation of pesticides. In particular, zinc oxide (ZnO) based nanophotocatalysts have garnered considerable attention due to their wide band gap (∼3.37 eV), strong oxidative capability, high electron mobility, low electron–hole recombination rates, and natural antibacterial properties, which enhance their photocatalytic activity under sunlight. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in ZnO-mediated photocatalytic degradation of pesticides, focusing on synthesis methods, structural modifications such as doping and defect engineering, and material hybridization aimed at improving photocatalytic efficiency. Furthermore, the study critically examines the influence of key factors, including catalyst concentration, surface morphology, and particle size, on degradation performance. This review aims to offer a thorough understanding of the versatility of ZnO as a tunable photocatalyst for mitigating pesticide contamination in wastewater by combining mechanistic insights with experimental observations. This integration not only highlights the potential of ZnO in this context but also establishes a foundation for creating scalable and eco-friendly remediation approaches.