Study of optical and morphological properties of nanoparticles semiconductors of zinc oxide synthesized using Mimosa tenuiflora extract for photodegradation of methyl orange

In this work, we report the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles semiconductors using Mimosa tenuiflora extract, as a reducing and stabilizing agent, as well as its photocatalytic activity. The synthesis of ZnO was performed under mild and eco-friendly conditions employing different concentrations 0%, 4%, 6%, and 8% (weight/volume) of extract. The effects of the extract the concentration on the optical, morphological, and structural properties of ZnO nanoparticles were studied by different techniques such as UV–Vis, PL, SEM, FT-IR, and XRD. The results demonstrated the obtaining of agglomerated quasi-spheric nanoparticles, with a crystalline structure similar to wurtzite, and bandgap values dependent on extract concentration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows the presence of Zn–O vibration band at 447 cm−1. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye, as an organic model dye, when is subjected to solar and UV radiation, as well as darkness, where it undergoes degradation around 62%, 100%, and 5%, respectively. The high photocatalytic activity and rate were related to the small particle size, that could provide an efficient interaction between dye and photocatalyst, and at the same time, allow the photon absorption and induce dye photodegradation. •ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthetized using Mimosa tenuiflora.•The bandgap value of ZnO increased with the concentration of extract plant.•The XRD diffraction patterns revealed the formation of wurtzite phase ZnO.•The maximum degradation of methyl orange (MO) was 100%.