Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles A Trifecta of Antioxidant, Antifungal, and Catalytic Excellence.

Abstract

In this study, green synthesis methods were used to fabricate zinc oxide nanoparticles(ZnONPs) using Newbouldia laevisleaf extract. Analytical techniques, including Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA),Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis spectrophotometer, charac-terized the green-synthesized ZnONPs. Structural and morphological investigations confirmed successful synthesis. FTIR established functional groups involved in stabilizing and reducing the nano particles, while TEM revealed non-spherical particles with well-defined size distribution, crystalline structure, hexagonal morphology, and an average size of 34.8 nm. The ZnONPs demonstrated unique antioxidant properties, withradical scavenging capacity increasing in a concentration-dependent manner. Excellent antifungal activity was observed against Trichophyton rubrum, Aspergillus fumigatus,andCandida albicans, with inhibitory zones ranging from 9 to 18 mm at 100, 200, and400 mg/mL. Additionally, the ZnONPs showed remarkable photocatalytic reduction of4-nitrophenol under sunlight. These findings highlight the potential of environmentally friendly ZnONPs for applications in anti-fungal, antioxidant, and photocatalytic processes