Issue

Vol. 38 No. 7 (2026): Vol. 38, No 7 (2026)

Copyright (c) 2026 K SUJITHA, K BALAKRISHNAN, N MANI, S JOTHI RAMALINGAM, S SASIKRUBA, P DHARSHINI

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Bougainvillea glabra-Mediated ZnO/rGO Nanocomposite for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue and Antibacterial Activity

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2026.36190
K. Sujitha
PG and Research Department of Chemistry, A.V.V.M. Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous) (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli), Poondi-613502, India; Department of Chemistry, Sengamala Thayaar Educational Trust Women’s College (Autonomous) (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli), Sundarakkottai, Mannargudi-614016, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3294-3567
K. Balakrishnan
PG and Research Department of Chemistry, A.V.V.M. Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous) (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli), Poondi-613502, India
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8520-3314
N. Mani
PG and Research Department of Chemistry, A.V.V.M. Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous) (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli), Poondi-613502, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3712-3456
S. Jothi Ramalingam
PG and Research Department of Chemistry, A.V.V.M. Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous) (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli), Poondi-613502, India
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4863-7046
S. Sasikruba
Department of Chemistry, Tagore Engineering College, Rathinamangalam, Vandalur, Chennai-600127, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5695-4932
P. Dharshini
Department of Chemistry, Sengamala Thayaar Educational Trust Women’s College (Autonomous) (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli), Sundarakkottai, Mannargudi-614016, India
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4542-9257

Corresponding Author(s) : K. Sujitha

ssujithatvr@gmail.com

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 38 No. 7 (2026): Vol. 38, No 7 (2026)

Abstract

The synthesised ZnO/rGO/Bougainvillea glabra nanocomposite demonstrates significant structural and functional modifications due to the incorporation of rGO and plant-derived phytochemicals. A reduction in crystallite size from 28.8 nm to 2-4 nm indicates controlled nucleation and growth during synthesis. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirms Zn–O bonding along with organic functional groups, evidencing surface modification by plant extract. Morphological analysis reveals a heterogeneous structure, contributing to increased active surface area. The band gap reduction from 3.29 to 3.18 eV suggests enhanced light absorption, likely due to ZnO–rGO interactions facilitating improved electron transfer. Photocatalytic studies show enhanced methylene blue degradation compared to pristine ZnO, attributed to efficient charge separation and reduced electron–hole recombination. The composite retains activity over multiple cycles, indicating good stability. The synthesized nanocomposite also exhibited modest antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains, which may be attributed to reactive species generation and surface interactions.

Keywords

ZnO Reduced graphene oxide Bougainvillea glabra Photocatalysis Methylene blue Antibacterial activity
(1)
Sujitha, K.; Balakrishnan, K.; Mani, N.; Ramalingam, S. J.; Sasikruba, S.; Dharshini, P. Bougainvillea Glabra-Mediated ZnO RGO Nanocomposite for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue and Antibacterial Activity. ajc 2026, 38, 1816-1824.
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)
BibTeX
References
  1. P. Kumar, K. Singh, J. Singh, M.K. Talla, S. Ali, R. Chauhan and A. Ranjan, J. Environ. Eng., (2026);
  2. S. Dutta, S. Adhikary, S. Bhattacharya, S. Chatterjee, A. Chakraborty, D. Roy, D. Banerjee, A. Ganguly, S. Nanda and P. Rajak, J. Environ. Manag., 353, 120103 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120103
  3. A. Tkaczyk-Wlizło and K. Mitrowska, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 33, 9225 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-026-37866-x
  4. A. Tkaczyk-Wlizło, K. Mitrowska and A. Posyniak, Sci. Total Environ., 717, 137222 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137222
  5. K. Abhisek, S.S. Vhatkar, H.T. Mathew, P. Singh and R. Oraon, Discover Chem., 2, 41 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1007/s44371-025-00111-4
  6. M.A.M. Al-Gheethi, A.N.A. Al-Sahari, A.M.M. Mohamed and A.H.M. Kassim, Environ. Technol. Innov., 25, 102121 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.102121
  7. M.A. Islam, M.A. Al Mamun, A.F.M.F. Halim, R. Peila and D.O.S. Ramirez, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res., 31, 19166 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32454-3
  8. F. Zhang, X. Wang, H. Liu, C. Liu, Y. Wan, Y. Long and Z. Cai, Appl. Sci., 9, 2489 (2019); https://doi.org/10.3390/app9122489
  9. A.P. Chowdhury, K.S. Anantharaju, K. Keshavamurthy and S.L. Rokhum, Int. J. Photoenergy, 2023, 9780955 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9780955
  10. Z. Khan, M. Kamal, G. U. Rehman, U. Niaz, H. D. Rizqi, J. Jaafar, M. Irfan and A. F. Ismail, Environ. Eng. Res., 31, 250435 (2026); https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2025.435
  11. O. Ishchenko, V. Rogé, G. Lamblin, D. Lenoble and I. Fechete, Compt. Rendus Chim., 24, 103 (2021); https://doi.org/10.5802/crchim.64
  12. J. Dostanić, D. Lončarević, M. Hadnađev-Kostić and T. Vulić, Processes, 12, 1914 (2024); https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12091914
  13. M.A. Wahba, Discov. Mater., 6, 127 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-026-00585-8
  14. H. Wu, L. Liu, S. Wang, N. Zhu, Z. Li, L. Zhao and Y. Wang, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 25, 25232 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1039/D3CP03391K
  15. A. Kołodziejczak-Radzimska and T. Jesionowski, Materials, 7, 2833 (2014); https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7042833
  16. K.M. Lee, C.W. Lai, K.S. Ngai and J.C. Juan, Water Res., 88, 428 (2016); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.09.045
  17. S. Goktas and A. Goktas, J. Alloys Compd., 863, 158734 (2021); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2021.158734
  18. H.M. Rasheed, K. Aroosh, D. Meng, X. Ruan, M. Akhter and X. Cui, Mater. Today Energy, 48, 101774 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtener.2024.101774
  19. M. Mishra and M. Kumar, Discov. Mater., 6, 26 (2026); https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00463-9
  20. N.H.M. Kaus, A.F. Rithwan, R. Adnan, M.L. Ibrahim, S. Thongmee, and S.F.M. Yusoff, Catalysts, 11, 302 (2021); https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11030302
  21. S.I.S. Mashuri, M.F. Kasim, N.H.M. Kaus, Y.H. Tan, A. Islam, U. Rashid, N. Asikin-Mijan, J. Andas, Y.H. Taufiq-Yap, M.K. Yaakob, W.I.N.W. Ismail and M.L. Ibrahim, Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev., 184, 113602 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113602
  22. C. Cheng, A. Amini, C. Zhu, Z. Xu, H. Song and N. Wang, Sci. Rep., 4, 4181 (2014); https://doi.org/10.1038/srep04181
  23. D.H. Hanna, D.S. Nady, M.W. Wasef, M.H. Fakhry, F.S. Mohamed, D.M. Isaac, M.M. Kirolos, M.S. Azmy, G.E. Hakeem and C.A. Fathy, Next Mater., 9, 101275 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nxmate.2026.101929
  24. H. Singh, M. F. Desimone, S. Pandya, S. Jasani, N. George, M. Adnan, A. Aldarhami, A.S. Bazaid and S.A. Alderhami, Int. J. Nanomedicine, 18, 4727 (2023); https://doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S419369
  25. Z. Villagrán, L.M. Anaya-Esparza, C.A. Velázquez-Carriles, J.M. Silva-Jara, J.M. Ruvalcaba-Gómez, E.F. Aurora-Vigo, E. Rodríguez-Lafitte, N. Rodríguez-Barajas, I. Balderas-León and F. Martínez-Esquivias, Resources, 13, 70 (2024); https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13060070
  26. C.R. Mendes, G. Dilarri, C.F. Forsan, V.M.R. Sapata, P.R.M. Lopes, P.B. de Moraes, R.N. Montagnolli, H. Ferreira and E.D. Bidoia, Sci. Rep., 12, 2658 (2022); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-06657-y
  27. S.N. Tan, M.L. Yuen and R.A. Ramli, Green Anal. Chem., 12, 100230 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.greeac.2025.100230
  28. G. Singh, M.K. Ubhi, K. Jeet, C. Singla and M. Kaur, Processes, 11, 1727 (2023); https://doi.org/10.10.3390/pr11061727
  29. D.C. Marcano, D.V. Kosynkin, J.M. Berlin, A. Sinitskii, Z. Sun, A. Slesarev, L.B. Alemany, W. Lu and J.M. Tour, ACS Nano, 4, 4806 (2010); https://doi.org/10.1021/nn1006368
  30. A.C.D. Filho, J. de Jesus Soares, M.R.S. Carriço, G.P. Viçozi, W.H. Flores, C.C. Denardin, R. Roehrs and E.L.G. Denardin, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int., 30, 36244 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24633-x
  31. K. Madi, D. Chebli, H. Ait Youcef, H. Tahraoui, A. Bouguettoucha, M. Kebir, J. Zhang and A. Amrane, Catalysts, 14, 62 (2024); https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14010062
  32. A. Negash, S. Mohammed, H.D. Weldekirstos, A.D. Ambaye and M. Gashu, Sci. Rep., 13, 22234 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48826-7
  33. S. Rajakumari, S. Mohandoss and S. Sureshkumar, Braz. J. Chem. Eng., 41, 1345 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1007/s43153-023-00406-y
Read More
Author biographies is not available.
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
Download
PDF
Statistic
Read Counter : 5 Download : 3
PlumX