Hydrothermally synthesized Cd-doped ZnO nanostructures with efficient sunlight-driven photocatalytic and antibacterial activity

The doping in the metal oxide is key factors that can affect the photocatalytic and antibacterial activity. In present work, Cd-doped ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized by using a facile hydrothermal method. The sunlight induced photocatalytic activity of Cd-doped ZnO nanostructures was evaluated towards the degradation of methylene blue dye. The antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. The XRD patterns exhibit a wurtzite hexagonal crystal structure with crystallite size in the range of 18–23 nm. Field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed the plate-like morphology of undoped ZnO and it transforms into small nanorods and aggregated irregularly shaped nanoparticles with the incorporation of Cd into ZnO. Energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis confirms the presence of cadmium in Cd-doped ZnO sample. The UV–Visible absorption spectra showed a redshift with an increase in Cd dopant concentration in ZnO. The PL spectra show near band edge emission and defect-related visible emission band. The Cd-doped ZnO exhibits excellent photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye compared to undoped ZnO within 30 min. The Cd-doped ZnO (4 wt%) shows maximum photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 84% under sunlight irradiation.