Effects of Daucus carota extract used in green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles

This work present the result of a study on the effects of different amounts of Daucus carota (carrot) extract in the green synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO), and its application as a photocatalyst. Zinc nitrate was used as the zinc source while the Daucus carota (carrot) extract was used as a reductant and a stabilizing agent in different amounts; 10, 30, 60 and 80 mL. The morphology of the material showed that varying the amount of extract during synthesis made variations in particle size and shape distribution. The band gap values were of 3.13, 3.14, 3.15 and 3.16 eV for the 10, 30, 60 and 80 mL samples, respectively. The photocatalytic properties of the ZnO were evaluated through methylene blue degradation where the sample made with 80 mL presented 95% dye degradation in 120 min, which is more efficient than comparable commercial ZnO nanoparticles.