Enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of eco-friendly synthesized ZnO for rapid full degradation of methylene blue dye

Abstract

The rapid advancement of industry and economic development have enhanced productivity, urbanization, and living standards; but uncontrolled emissions of pollutants from various industries have adversely affected the environment. Organic dyes in industrial wastewater represent a significant source of pollution, causing serious risks to aquatic environments and public health due to their high stability and resistance to breakdown. An effective strategy for eliminating these contaminants is the application of photocatalytic semiconductors like ZnO. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via a modified sol–gel method utilizing three different solvents (ethanol, 1-propanol and 1,4-butanediol), investigating the influence of solvent type on their structural and photocatalytic characters. The results indicate that the samples synthesized with ethanol exhibit superior photocatalytic efficacy in the degradation of methylene blue (MB), achieving a pollutant elimination efficiency of 98% within a brief duration. This study demonstrates that selecting an appropriate solvent substantially influences the final characteristics of ZnO leading to a marked enhancement in its photocatalytic efficacy.