Kalonji Seed Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanopowders: Photocatalytic, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with different morphologies were synthesized via green route using Kalonji seed extract (KSE) as fuel. The formation of ZnO nanostructures (NSs) were characterized by XRD, SEM, UV-vis. The influence of KSE concentration on the morphology, UV visible absorption, and photocatalytic activity of ZnO NPs were investigated. The various morphologies of ZnO NPs probed for the photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue (MB). The enhanced photocatalytic activities of ZnO nanoflower was attributed to small crystallite size, more surface defects, wide band gap and capability for reducing the electron-hole pair recombination. In addition, ZnO NPs showed significant antibacterial activity against Gram –ve bacterial strain Klebsiella aerogenes when compared to Gram +ve bacterial strain Staphylococcus aureus.