Comparative Studies on Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Ag Doped ZnO Nanoparticles

[Image: see text] In this work, silver (Ag) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using zinc chloride, zinc nitrate, and zinc acetate precursors with (0 to 10) wt % Ag doping by a simple reflux chemical method. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The nanoparticles are studied as a photocatalyst for visible light driven annihilation of methylene blue and rose bengal dyes. The 5 wt % Ag doped ZnO displayed optimum photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue and rose bengal dye degradation at the rate of 13 × 10(–2) min(–1) and 10 × 10(–2) min(–1), respectively. Here we report antifungal activity for the first time using Ag doped ZnO nanoparticles against Bipolaris sorokiniana, displaying 45% efficiency for 7 wt % Ag doped ZnO.