Aegle Marmelos Extract Synthesis of Zn‐MoO 3 NPs: Probing of Electrochemical Sensing Actions on Mercury Ions With Photocatalytic Applications
Khandugadahalli Nagarajappa Harish, Kiran T, Surendra B.S, Bharath M J, Namitha R, Kosagi Shyam Prasad, Prashanth K. K, Thibbegowda Prashanth, Sathish ReddyABSTRACT
This research probes an Aegle marmelos extract mediated synthesis of host‐MoO 3 and Zn‐MoO 3 nanomaterials (NPs) via a solution combustion route. Structural, morphological, and optical characterization of the fabricated materials was conducted via Powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), (SEM‐EDX)Scanning Electron Microscope‐ Energy ‐ Dispersive X ‐Ray spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT‐IR), and UV–vis spectral techniques. The synthesized Zn‐doped material serves as a cost‐effective, sustainable platform for excellent photocatalytic and electrochemical sensing applications. The outcome of optical analysis and Tauc's plots for Zn‐MoO 3 (3.5 eV) NPs revealed improved photo‐degradation activity than MoO 3 (3.94 eV), confirming the impact of Zn doping in hindered the recombination of e − –h + pairs. The superior photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) by Zn‐MoO 3 NPs under light irradiation was examined. Its degradation efficiency was found to be 94.8% at 105 min, conforming to pseudo‐first‐order kinetics (k = 0.0204 min −1 ). The electrochemical sensing action of modified Zn‐MoO 3 NPs was examined on mercury ions (1–5 m