Sustainable synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles from Psathyrella candolleana mushroom extract: Characterization, antibacterial activity, and photocatalytic potential

In this study, we successfully synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using an aqueous extract derived from Psathyrella candolleana mushrooms. We investigated the impact of mushroom concentration on the properties of these nanoparticles through a comprehensive array of characterization techniques, including Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and UV-visible spectroscopy. FTIR spectra clearly confirmed the presence of the Zn-O bond stretching mode, serving as validation for the successful synthesis. The XRD patterns provided evidence of ZnO formation, showcasing a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The crystallinity of the ZnO NPs exhibited an excellent correlation with the concentration of the mushroom extract, revealing a reduction in crystallite size from 51 nm to 19 nm as mushroom concentration increased. TEM micrographs unveiled a unique sword-like structure in the nanoparticles. Moreover, the optical bandgap exhibited a noticeable reduction from 2.96 eV to 2.46 eV as mushroom concentration increased. Impressively, the ZnO NPs synthesized through this method displayed significant antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus meurellus, Escherichia coli, and Acetobactor rhizospherensis, under both dark conditions and UV-A light exposure. Furthermore, our photocatalytic experiments highlighted that these prepared ZnO nanoparticles achieved an 80 % degradation rate of methylene blue within just 60 min. This clear evidence underscores their remarkable ability to break down artificial dyes.

Automated summary

Zinc oxide nanoparticles with antibacterial and photocatalytic properties were successfully synthesized using an aqueous extract derived from Psathyrella candolleana mushrooms.