Articles

Facile Synthesis and Antifungal Efficiency of Nickel and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

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Nickel oxide (NiO) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using a simple, eco-friendly co-precipitation method followed by ultrasonication. The synthesis utilized AR-grade NiCl2·6H2O and Zn(NO3) 2·6H2O with NH4OH as a precipitating agent, offering a cost-effective and scalable approach. Structural analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of pure cubic phases with crystallite sizes ranging between 10.4–18.5 nm for NiO and 11.6–19.2 nm for ZnO, depending on the calcination temperature (400–600°C). UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed a tunable band gap: NiO exhibited Eg values of 4.1 eV (500°C) to 1.6 eV (600°C), while ZnO showed Eg from 3.6 eV (500°C) to 4.0 eV (600°C), indicating potential for visible-light-driven photocatalytic or optoelectronic applications. FTIR confirmed strong metal–oxygen bonding, and SEM revealed well-defined porous morphologies. Notably, antifungal activity tested against Aspergillus niger and Fusarium spp. using the Kirby–Bauer method showed zone of inhibition (ZOI) up to 17.4 mm for ZnO and 16.6 mm for NiO, respectively, at a nanoparticle concentration of 200 µg/ml. This study is innovative in demonstrating a temperature-tuned synthesis approach that correlates nano-structural features with antimicrobial efficiency, enabling design of next-generation biocompatible antifungal agents for biomedical coatings and environmental remediation.

Luminescence Studies of Transition Metal (Cu+ and Ag+ Ions) Activated Alkali Zinc Mixed Phosphate

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Because of the importance of inorganic phosphates in the solid-state lighting industry, KZnPO4 doped with some transition metal dopant ions like Cu+ and Ag+ ions were prepared by low-cost co-precipitation method at room temperature followed by annealing at a high temperature around 6500C. The prepared phosphors were characterized by X-ray diffraction. In the case of a Photoluminescence study for KZnPO4 doped with Cu+, the emission was observed at 425 nm, which corresponds to the emission of Cu+ ion. In the case of Ag+ doped KZnPO4, weak emission was observed at 420 nm, which is assigned to the emission of Ag+ ions.  CIE chromaticity coordinate of KZnPO4 doped with Cu+ and Ag+ ions phosphor was also evaluated via using OSRAM SYLVANIA color calculator and colour purity of concentration was nearly 95% of Cu+ and Ag+ ions. The obtained outcomes revealed that the prepared phosphor shows potential application in the field of solid-state lighting.