Green synthesis of Cu‐Mn co‐incorporated ZnO nanoparticles for antibacterial and photocatalytic applications

The synergistic effect of bimetallic co‐incorporated metal oxides have gained enormous attention due to their unique optoelectronic properties. Herein, we present the green synthesis of ZnO, Cu‐incorporated ZnO, Mn‐incorporated ZnO, and Cu‐Mn co‐incorporated nanoparticles (ZnO NPs, CuZnO NPs, MnZnO NPs, MnCuZnO NPs) for antimicrobial and photocatalytic reduction applications using corn silk extract and industrial metal wastes. The as‐synthesized NPs were characterized by using UV‐visible absorption spectroscopy (UV‐Vis), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), powdered x‐ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CuZnO, MnZnO, and MnCuZnO NPs efficiently inhibited bacterial culture growth. The photocatalytic reduction activity of as‐synthesized NPs against the different concentrations of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) in water was also investigated. CuZnO and MnCuZnO nanoparticles were to be efficient photocatalysts for reducing 4‐NP into 4‐aminophenol (4‐AP). Research Highlights Green synthesis of nanomaterials by agricultural and industrial wastes Cu and Mn co‐incorporated ZnO NPs have shown good photocatalysis and antimicrobial activities Green approach for waste conversion to value‐added products Green synthesis of Cu‐Mn co‐incorporated ZnO catalysts has shown photo reduction and biological activities.