Synthesis, photocatalytic and antidiabetic properties of ZnO/PVA nanoparticles

A series of ZnO and ZnO/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) catalysts were prepared using sol-gel method. An X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the existence of the wurtzite ZnO phase, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation revealed the formation of spherical ZnO and ZnO/PVA nanoparticles. The decomposition of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) induced by the synthesized pure ZnO and ZnO/PVA nanoparticles was studied under ultraviolet-visible irradiation. Among the catalysts evaluated, ZnO/5PVA was the most active in the decomposition of MB, whereas ZnO/7PVA was the most active catalyst in the decomposition of MO. Moreover, an investigation of the biological activity of pure ZnO and ZnO/PVA indicated that ZnO/5PVA exhibited the best performance in lowering the glucose level in diabetic rats.

Automated summary

A series of ZnO and ZnO/PVA catalysts were prepared using sol-gel method, with ZnO/5PVA showing the highest activity in decomposing methylene blue and ZnO/7PVA being the most active catalyst in decomposing methyl orange. Furthermore, ZnO/5PVA exhibited the best performance in lowering the glucose level in diabetic rats among the tested catalysts.