Study of ZnO nanoparticle-supported clay minerals for electrochemical sensors, photocatalysis, and antioxidant applications

Abstract

In view of the current study's demonstration of the synthesis of clay-doped ZnO composites, we present a low-cost method for producing clay-metal oxide (clay/ZnO). Utilizing the solution combustion technique, a composite of clay/ZnO was produced utilizing citric acid as both a fuel and a complexing agent. The hexagonal unit cell structure of the created clay/ZnO may be seen using XRD patterns. The ZnO-infused clay was visible in FE-SEM micrographs as homogenous, sphere-shaped ZnO. The possible involvement of clay/ZnO photocatalytic activity in the UV-induced photodegradation of malachite green dye was investigated. The 90% degradation rate shows the composite's outstanding photocatalytic degradation capacity. The resulting substance was electrochemically analyzed using a constructed electrode in 0.1 M KOH electrolyte. It increased its sensor capabilities, which now include chemical and biomolecule sensors, and it excelled in cyclic voltammetry-based redox potential studies. To efficiently evaluate chemically synthesized NPs for electrochemical, sensing, and photocatalytic applications, this study intends to create a solution combustion procedure for the synthesis of clay/ZnO nanocomposite using urea as fuel.