One-step synthesis, characterisation, photocatalytic and bio-medical applications of ZnO nanoplates

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoplates were synthesised via the calcination of zinc acetate along with orange peel powder at 500 degrees C for 4 h. The phase purity and average crystallite size of the prepared ZnO nanoplates were determined using Debye-Scherer's formula from the most intense peaks of X-ray diffraction (XRD). Fourier transform infrared (FT IR) spectroscopy was used to ascertain the surface functional group and metal-oxygen bond in the sample. Diffuse reflectance (DRS) UV-Visible absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were used to examine the optical property of the sample. Both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the prepared sample has plate-like morphology with different dimensions. The ZnO nanoplates showed enhanced photocatalytic activity against rhodamine B (RhB) under UV light irradiation within 60 min. In addition, the as-prepared ZnO nanoplates were also used for H9c2 cardiomyoblasts cells to find the activity against MTT.