AP0993 Beetroot-Mediated Synthesis of ZnO/CdS Nanocomposites: A Study on Their Structural, Morphological, Optical, and Antibacterial Features

Abstract

In this study, ZnO/CdS nanocomposite was obtained via a Co-precipitation method at room temperature using beetroot juice (BRJ). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the formation of the compound, while the field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) revealed semi-spherical particles of approximately 16 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) showed Zn, O, Cd, and S in the composite with respective weight percentages of 64.3%, 32.1%, 2.3%, and 1.4%. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed Zn-O and Cd-S bonds, supporting successful synthesis. UV-visible spectroscopy revealed strong UV absorbance and an energy bandgap of 3.9 eV. Antibacterial testing demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of both S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. The ZnO/CdS nanocomposite exhibited effective antibacterial activity, particularly at higher concentrations, alongside its optical properties, making it suitable for applications requiring biocompatibility and light absorption.