Abstract
•Nano-spinel FeV2O4 decorated ZnO for enhanced photocatalysis.•Synthesized by facile ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation method.•UV-Vis-DRS, HRTEM, XRD, BET, PL, VSM, XPS and FTIR analysis were performed.•The photocatalytic activity of FeV2O4-ZnO was enhanced by 3.6 times than ZnO.•The particles exhibited excellent antibacterial activity.
Enhancement of photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoplates was achieved by loading FeV2O4. The coexistence of FeV2O4 and ZnO in a single crystalline material was ensured by obtaining XRD pattern. XPS confirmed the chemical states present in FeV2O4-ZnO nanocomposites (NCs). The octahedral/tetrahedral M─O bonds presence was indicated in FTIR. High surface area (49.36 m2/g) was observed in NCs. White-light harvesting was facilitated due to the narrow bandgap in NCs (2.41 eV) compared with pure ZnO (3.1 eV). The magnetic property of NCs was validated by VSM analysis. The photocatalytic activity of NCs was 3.6 folds enhanced than pristine counter parts. Dye degradation is primarily carried out by generated ·OH radicals. The photocatalysis performance was almost same even after 5th cycle. The NCs exposure to Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis showed enhanced growth inhibition. The magnetically-removable FeV2O4-ZnO NCs can be applied for environmental remediation and antimicrobial application.