Photocatalytic adsorption and scavenging potential of chemical and green encapsulated anatase phase of coupled doped Zn-Co TiO₂ nanoparticles

Abstract

The alarming global issue of dye contamination in water poses a critical threat to both human health and aquatic ecosystems, exacerbated by the irresponsible discharge of colored pollutants from the textile industry. Amidst various remedies, photocatalysis utilizing Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) stands out as a remarkably effective solution for combatting dye pollution. In an endeavor to elevate the efficiency of TiO₂, this study dedicated its focus to the successful synthesis of anatase-phase coupled doped Zinc-Cobalt (Zn-Co) TiO₂ nanoparticles (TDNPs), achieved through a dual approach involving chemical encapsulation with Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and green encapsulation with Tinospora Cordifolia (T. Cordifolia). The encapsulated Zn-Co TDNPs underwent meticulous analysis, unveiling a tetragonal crystal structure and presenting a visually appealing spherical morphology, with particle sizes ranging from 61 to 82 nm. The photocatalytic prowess of the encapsulated TDNPs proved to be nothing short of impressive, showcasing an outstanding degradation efficiency of up to 99 % for both methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) dyes under UV radiation. Beyond their exceptional dye remediation capabilities, these encapsulated TDNPs also exhibited noteworthy antioxidant activity, demonstrating an efficacy of up to 96 and 95 % in the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and hydrogen peroxide (HP) assay, respectively. This study not only addresses a critical environmental concern but also highlights the tantalizing potential of encapsulated Zn-Co TDNPs in paving the way for sustainable and effective water treatment solutions.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Degradation
• encapsulated
• polyvinylpyrrolidone
• scavenging activity
• Tinospora cordifolia

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Centre for Nano-Science and Technology in Career Point University, Hamirpur (H.P.) for providing all the necessary facilities to conduct research work. In addition, the authors are grateful to Sophisticated Analytical Instrumentation Facility, Panjab University, Punjab and Sprint Testing Solutions, Mumbai for assistance of characterization of samples.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Data availability statement

Data will be made available on request.