Facile synthesis of ZnO-Y2O3 nanocomposite for photocatalytic and biological applications

ZnO and ZnO-Y2O3 nanocomposites (NCs) were investigated for their photocatalytic degradation of Methylene blue (MB) dye. X-ray diffraction study demonstrates that the hexagonal structure of ZnO has crystallite size compared to ZnO-Y2O3 NCs and confirms the cubic configuration of Y2O3. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the ZnO nanoparticles are spherical and ZnO-Y2O3 NCs have smaller particles with less agglomeration. The decreased recombining of excited e−/h+ of ZnO-Y2O3 NCs is confirmed over fluorescence study. ZnO-Y2O3 exhibits a more significant degradation efficiency (96%) than ZnO nanoparticles (86%) in 120 min. ZnO-Y2O3 NCs have antibacterial as well as antioxidant activity. [Display omitted] •ZnO and ZnO-Y2O3 nanocomposites to photocatalytically degrade dye was studied.•ZnO-Y2O3 NCs and ZnO hexagonal structure crystallite size as determined by XRD.•SEM image shows that the ZnO have a spherical shape and ZnO-Y2O3 NCs.•ZnO-Y2O3 exhibits degradation efficiency up to 96% than ZnO NPs in 120 min.•ZnO-Y2O3 NCs have higher antibacterial as well as antioxidant activity.