Eco-benign Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Metal-oxide Nanoparticles in Solar Cells and Photodegradation of Neomycin
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Date
2025-12
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Lead City University Ibadan
Abstract
The quest for renewable energy and cost-effective degradation of antibiotics has led to the synthesis of Metal-Oxide (MO) nano-photocatalyts via eco-benign approach. The metal oxides were synthesized biogenically using Syzygium malaccense leaf extract (as capping and stabilizing agents) and Aluminum sulphate octadecahydrate, Copper sulphate heptahydrate and Zinc sulphate heptahydrate salts as precursors. The synthesized aluminum oxide (Al2O3), Copper II oxide (CuO) and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. The materials were used for the photodegradation of Neomycin (NEO) and as photoanode, counter electrode and insulating spacer respectively in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs). The FTIR showed absorbance with range value between 400-800 cm-1 which corresponds to Al-O Cu-O and Zn-O vibrational stretch of the MOs. The optical properties of Al2O3 CuO and ZnO NPs were determined using Tauc’s plot with band gap energy values of 2.09, 2.05 and 3.23 eV and maximum UV-Vis absorbance values of 371.61, 370 and 371 nm. The SEM micrographs of Al2O3, CuO, and ZnO NPs showed a consistent spherical shape, with average particle sizes of 27.50 nm, 11.01 nm, and 21.98 nm, respectively. The EDX confirmed the elemental composition of the nanoparticles. DSSCs utilizing Al2O3,CuO and ZnO NPs demonstrated a 1.79, 3.44 and 6.4% power conversion efficiency in an increasing order of ZnO > CuO > Al₂O₃ > Control (Without NPs). After 120 min of UV irradiation, 75 and 95% of NEO were degraded with CuO and ZnO nanoparticles respectively. ZnO photocatalyst proved more effective than CuO photocatalyst at degrading the antibiotic. The kinetic studies shows that K values of CuO and ZnO photocatalysts had the values of 0.0072 and 0.0179 min−1 while R2 = 0.83 and 0.82, respectively. The stability of the photocatalyst showed that the produced material (ZnO biosynthesized nanoparticles) had a major impact on both photocatalytic performance and power conversion efficiency. The findings of this study present the biogenically synthesized MONPs as low-cost, and eco-friendly material for energy conversion and photocatalyst for environmental remediation purposes.
Keywords: Metal-Oxide nanoparticles, Photocatalysis, DSSCs, Neomycin, Semiconductors
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Keywords
Metal-Oxide nanoparticles, Photocatalysis, DSSCs, Neomycin, Semiconductors
Citation
Kate Turabian