Green synthesized zinc derived nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity: An updated review on structural modification, scientific assessment and environmental applications

Recently, zinc-derived nanocomposites (Zn-DN) are gaining much scientific interest due to their intense properties such as variable energy band structures, permit a larger variety of wavelengths, and less recombination capability of charge carriers. The adsorption and photocatalysis behavior of zinc materials could be improved with different non-metals (N, S, C, F, and Cl), metals (transition metals, alkaline earth metals, rare earth metals), polymers, and Prussian blue analogues. This review thoroughly introduced the preparation methods of Zn-DN and analyzes how doping impacts the optical properties, making them active in the visible region. Numerous shapes, including spherical, rod-like, cube-like, triangular, hexagonal, and many others, have been examined. Additionally, the creations of Zn-DN have applications in a wide variety of systems, substrates, and dispersion media for wastewater treatment. The effects of doping on environmental applications with the proposed mechanism are also summarized. Reactive oxygen species are generated on visible light irradiation for photocatalytic degradation of toxic organic pollutants. Given that the most commonly ZnO and ZnO- derived nanocomposites were synthesized in previous research and highlighted. This research aims to provide a basis for the design of semiconducting nanoparticle architectures for next-generation applications in addition to a comprehensive assessment of existing zinc-derived nanocomposites. The prospected review also includes the difficulties and potential developments in Zn-DN nanocomposites.