The development of efficient photocatalytic electrodes holds immense
promise for addressing environmental challenges. This study investigates the
enhanced photocatalytic activity of a microwave-synthesized hybrid
nanocomposite, emphasizing its potential contribution to sustainable
environmental remediation efforts. A hybrid nanocomposite is synthesized via
a one-pot microwave-based method, combining carbon nanodots (CNDs) and
zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) for methylene blue photodegradation.
The CNDs are synthesized from D-glucose precursor with a yield of 17.3%,
while ZnO NPs have a higher yield of 27.7%. The hybrid (ZnO/CNDs) is
formed with a 24.4% yield, leading to a size over 60 nm, indicating successful
adsorption of CNDs on ZnO surfaces. This hybridization improves
photocatalytic properties, decreasing the bandgap from 3 to 2.1 eV, and
enhancing visible light photocatalysis. Furthermore, thin film electrodes of
ZnO and hybrid materials are prepared on glass slides by spin coating. The
hybrid electrode demonstrates a 70% degradation efficiency of methylene
blue, surpassing ZnO (59%) after 120 min of light exposure. Its rate constant
is 0.01162 min−1 compared to ZnO’s 0.00943 min−1, with an apparent
quantum yield of 0.023 (hybrid) versus 0.019 (ZnO). Stability tests confirms
sustained efficiency over multiple cycles, highlighting the electrodes’
environmental and economic benefits in sustainable photodegradation
applications.

Title

Particle & Particle Systems Characterization

Publisher

wiley

Publisher Country

United States of America

Indexing

Thomson Reuters

Impact Factor

2.7

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

2400216

Year

2025

Pages

2400216