Effect of potassium on structural, photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of ZnO nanoparticles

ZnO and potassium doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized through wet chemical method. The samples were characterized by UV, XRD, SEM, TEM and EDAX. XRD analysis reveals that the prepared nanoparticles exhibit hexagonal wurtzite structure. TEM and SEM analyses disclose that synthesized samples were porous structure with needle shape. It also confirms that potassium was dispersed on ZnO surface. The influence of potassium on ZnO surface modulates the degradation of textile dyeing wastewater by improving its rate of decomposition to 0.007 min(-1) with decoloration. A better zone of inhibition of about 20 mm against Staphylococci aureus and Pseudomonas aernginosa by ZnO and potassium doped ZnO nanoparticles were measured. The findings suggest that these nanoparticles have the potential to be a good photocatalyst and applied in water treatment to inhibit the bacterial growth.