Enhanced photocatalytic activity of St-ZnO nanorods for methylene blue dye degradation

•St-ZnO nanorods were fabricated using a green chemistry method.•These nanorods were physicochemically characterized.•St-ZnO nanorods displayed a time-dependent photocatalytic degradation activity.•St-ZnO nanorods can be used as a green photocatalyst for sustainable wastewater treatment. In this study, zinc oxide (St-ZnO) nanorods were synthesized using the leaf extract of Solanum trilobactum plant. The physicochemical properties of the fabricated St-ZnO nanorods were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffractometer (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Field-Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), and UV–Visible spectral analysis. These nanorods were subjected under sunlight irradiation to study their photocatalytic property against methylene blue (MB) dye.The dye degradation efficiency of St-ZnO nanorods was calculated to be more than 90% after 45 min of sunlight irradiation. Also, in the experimental recycling study, St-ZnO nanorods were very stable and reusable.