An evaluation of banana stem extract’s potential for improving ZnO nanostructures for photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue in aqueous solution under natural light conditions

A study was carried out to evaluate the dynamic effects of banana stem extract on the surface modification, crystallinity, and optical properties of ZnO nanostructures synthesized using hydrothermal methods. The optimal amount of banana stem extract for high-performance photocatalysis was determined by testing a variety of amounts of banana stem extract. The ZnO nanostructures synthesized with banana stem extract display a flower-like morphology and exhibited a superior crystallinity after being synthesized. ZnO nanostructures have been found to be affected by banana stem extract in terms of their morphology, crystal quality, and optical properties. Additionally, different banana stem extract–assisted ZnO nanostructures have been evaluated for their photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under natural sunlight. A banana stem extract–induced ZnO nanostructure that was induced by banana stem extract was highly effective at removing MB after 90 min, with an over 100% degradation rate at low dye concentrations. Among the performance indicators are the amount of catalyst, the concentration of dye at the beginning of the process, and the pH of the dye solution. In scavenger measurements, it was determined that hydroxyl radicals were the primary reactive species responsible for the degradation of MB. Banana stem extract may prove to be an effective ingredient source due to its high biomass content, which can be used to modify the surface properties of metal oxide nanostructures in a relatively simple way.