A novel tri-phase CuO-MgO-ZnO nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via a co-precipitation method and thoroughly characterized using XRD, FTIR, Raman, UV-vis, PL, SEM, and EDX techniques. The XRD analysis confirmed the presence of crystalline phases corresponding to monoclinic CuO (40%), cubic MgO (24%), and hexagonal wurtzite ZnO (36%), indicating phase purity and high crystallinity. The optical bandgap energy was determined to be 2.9 eV, which enables effective absorption of visible light and makes the nanocomposite highly suitable for solar-driven photocatalysis. FTIR and Raman spectra further validated the formation of the composite by detecting characteristic vibrational modes of metal-oxygen bonds at 446 cm⁻¹ (CuO), 468 cm⁻¹ (MgO), and 502 cm⁻¹ (ZnO). SEM images revealed a rod-like morphology with significant agglomeration, while EDX confirmed the atomic composition in the order Cu > Zn > Mg. Photoluminescence studies indicated the presence of intrinsic defects, which play a crucial role in charge carrier separation.
The photocatalytic performance of the CuO-MgO-ZnO nanocomposite was evaluated under natural sunlight for the degradation of five model dyes: methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB), cresol red (CR), and p-nitroaniline (P-Nitro).20380-11-4 InChIKey At a dye concentration of 5 ppm, the degradation efficiencies reached 88.5% (MB), 93.5% (MO), 75.9% (RhB), 98.8% (CR), and 98.6% (P-Nitro) within 100 minutes. At 10 ppm, the efficiency slightly decreased to 82.6%, 83.6%, 64.3%, 93.1%, and 94.3%, respectively, due to increased surface adsorption saturation. Kinetic analysis followed pseudo-first-order behavior, with rate constants ranging from 0.00963 min⁻¹ (RhB) to 0.0521 min⁻¹ (CR) at 5 ppm. The superior activity of P-Nitro and CR can be attributed to their molecular structure and enhanced interaction with reactive species.Potato dextrose agar Autophagy Radical trapping experiments demonstrated that superoxide (•O₂⁻) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals are the primary active species responsible for dye degradation, as their scavengers significantly reduced the reaction rate.PMID:35235570
The nanocomposite exhibited excellent recyclability, maintaining over 95% degradation efficiency after five consecutive cycles, with no significant changes in XRD patterns post-use, confirming structural stability. Additionally, the material displayed strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The zone of inhibition ranged from 30 to 31 mm across all tested bacteria, comparable to standard antibiotic ciprofloxacin. This activity is attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage bacterial membranes and disrupt cellular functions. The synergistic effect of the double heterojunction between CuO, MgO, and ZnO enhances charge separation, suppresses recombination, and increases catalytic surface sites.
In conclusion, the CuO-MgO-ZnO nanocomposite emerges as a highly efficient, stable, and reusable photocatalyst for environmental remediation. Its ability to degrade diverse organic pollutants under sunlight and inhibit pathogenic bacteria highlights its potential for practical applications in wastewater treatment and public health protection. The rational design of multi-component oxide heterostructures offers a promising pathway toward sustainable and advanced materials for clean technology.MedChemExpress (MCE) offers a wide range of high-quality research chemicals and biochemicals (novel life-science reagents, reference compounds and natural compounds) for scientific use. We have professionally experienced and friendly staff to meet your needs. We are a competent and trustworthy partner for your research and scientific projects.Related websites: https://www.medchemexpress.com