Plant assisted synthesis of CuO/ZnO heterojunction nanocomposites using Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) Havil leaf extract for photocatalytic activity under full spectrum LED light and antibacterial performance

Abstract

CuO/ZnO heterojunction nanocomposites were synthesized through a green plant assisted method using Mitragyna speciosa leaf extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. Structural and morphological analyses (XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, UV–vis, and BET) confirmed the formation of CuO/ZnO heterostructures with mesoporous characteristics. The 0.25CuO/0.75ZnO heterojunction nanocomposites exhibited the smallest ZnO crystallite size (∼8.06 nm) and the highest surface area (28.97 m2/g). Photocatalytic performance evaluated by methylene blue degradation under full-spectrum irradiation showed that the 0.25CuO/0.75ZnO heterojunction nanocomposites achieved 92.29% degradation within 90 min with a rate constant of 0.02491 min−1. In addition, the nanocomposites demonstrated strong antibacterial activity, achieving 99.9% reduction of E. coli and >99.9% inhibition of S. aureus . The enhanced performance is attributed to efficient charge separation at the CuO/ZnO heterojunction and the generation of reactive oxygen species.