Quantum-Sized Chitosan Modified ZnO for the Photocatalytic Oxidation of Oxytetracycline Under Fluorescent Light Irradiation

This study explores the ability of chitosan to control the size of ZnO quantum dots (CHT/ZnO QDs) and defects formation via the microwave-assisted method, as well as their photocatalytic oxidation activity towards oxytetracycline (OTC). The intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds within the chitosan -OH and -NH 2 were altered by ZnO and microwave radiation. As a result, the particle size decreased from 9.35 ± 0.21 nm to 7.86 ± 0.28 nm. Additionally, the presence of chitosan led to higher oxygen vacancies ( V_s o) and Zn i interstitials. The small size enhanced the absorption of photons, while defects suppressed the recombination rate of photogenerated electron/hole (e − /h + ) pairs. The synthesized CHT/ZnO QDs exhibit outstanding photocatalytic performance by removing 97.4