Zinc Oxide Decorated Carbon Nanotubes Composites for Photocatalysis and Antifungal Application

Zinc oxide decorated carbon nanotube composites are synthesized using reflux chemical method. Structural, morphological and optical properties were investigated using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope; electron dispersion spectroscopy, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In current efforts, we have explored the impact of using different zinc precursors on the morphology, structural and optical properties of zinc oxide decorated carbon nanotube (ZnO/CNT) composite. The outcome of using zinc precursors, variation in degradation time and pH has been evaluated. The dye degradation activity of as prepared composites was studied for Methylene Blue (MB) and Rose Bengal (RB) dyes under visible spectrum shows rapid decline in effective degradation time with slight surge in pH of the dye sample. The ZnO:CNT catalyst exhibits higher photo catalytic performance in comparison with the pristine ZnO when exposed to visible spectrum. The optimum efficiency achieved here is 99% in 15 min. at pH 10 and 96% in 50 min at pH 5 against MB and RB dye respectively. Further, for the first time we report the antifungal activity of the as synthesized nanoparticles against Bipolaris sorokiniana which demonstrates optimum efficiency of 34%.