Herein, we report the biogenic fabrication of Fe0.03Zn0.97O (C-FZN) nanoplates using Citrus reticulata peel extract as a bio-reducing and stabilizing agent, offering an environmentally benign substitute for traditional techniques. To explore the effect of calcination temperature, a systematic optimization (400–600 °C) was conducted to modulate phase purity, crystallinity, and structural attributes. X-ray diffraction analysis along with multi-model crystallite size calculation methods including Halder–Wagner model (H-W), Size–Strain Plot (SSP), and Sahadat–Scherrer (S-S) model-identified 500 °C as the optimal condition, yielding phase-pure wurtzite ZnO with (101) orientation, exhibiting crystallite sizes ranging from 17 to 21 nm. FESEM micrographs revealed the formation of well-defined nanoplates with an average lateral size of 88 nm and an average thickness of ∼18 nm. In addition, TEM analysis also revealed the irregular platelike morphology of C-FZN, with noticeable porosity. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of different functional groups, while UV–vis spectroscopy indicated band gap narrowing (∼3.17 eV). Complementary DFT+U calculations predicted a further reduced band gap (∼2.2 eV) and the emergence of spin-polarized impurity states induced by Fe doping. Magnetic characterization revealed weak room-temperature ferromagnetism. Theoretical magnetic moments (∼3.64 μB) reinforced the intrinsic origin of ferromagnetism arising from Fe 3d states substituting Zn sites. The biogenic C-FZN exhibited an outstanding photocatalytic efficiency while degrading 84.23 % of chloramphenicol within 90 min. It further demonstrated remarkable reusability potential while retaining 80.96 % efficiency even after three consecutive cycles. Collectively, this study establishes a sustainable synthesis strategy for crystallographically engineered magnetic Fe-doped ZnO nanoplates, highlighting their promise as recyclable photocatalysts for mitigating antibiotic contamination in wastewater.
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