Effect of Laser Scanning Area during Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Formation via Pulsed Laser Ablation in Liquid on Photocatalytic Activity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jomalisc.v5.120Keywords:
zinc oxide nanoparticles, pulsed laser ablation in liquid, laser scanning area, photocatalysis, crystal violetAbstract
The discharge of synthetic dyes into aquatic environments poses serious environmental challenges due to their toxicity, persistence, and resistance to conventional treatment methods. Photocatalysis using semiconductor nanoparticles has emerged as an effective approach for degrading such pollutants. In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized via pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL), with a focus on the effect of laser scanning area on nanoparticle formation and photocatalytic performance. A high-purity zinc target was ablated in deionized water using a fiber laser at a constant power of 20 W, while the scanning area was varied from 1 x 1 mm² to 5 x 5 mm². The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ZnO nanoparticles exhibited near-hexagonal morphology with an average particle size of 18.10 nm. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated through the degradation of crystal violet dye under UV-A irradiation. The degradation efficiency increased from 84.49% to 97.91% with increasing scanning area, with the highest performance observed at 5 x 5 mm². These findings highlight the critical role of laser scanning area in optimizing ZnO nanoparticle synthesis and enhancing photocatalytic efficiency.
References
M. de J. Chinchillas-Chinchillas et al., “Sustainable Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles from Bromelia pinguin L.: Photocatalytic Properties and Their Contribution to Urban Habitability,” Sustainability (Switzerland), vol. 16, no. 23, Dec. 2024, doi: 10.3390/su162310745.
P. Kumari, A. Chholak, K. M. Tripathi, K. Awasthi, and R. Gupta, “Synthesis and applications of carbon nano-onions and their composites for the remediation of organic pollutants from wastewater,” 2025, Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/d5su00422e.
M. Medina-Acosta et al., “Photocatalytic Degradation of Four Organic Dyes Present in Water Using ZnO Nanoparticles Synthesized with Green Synthesis Using Ambrosia ambrosioides Leaf and Root Extract,” Processes, vol. 12, no. 11, Nov. 2024, doi: 10.3390/pr12112456.
A. Fujishima, X. Zhang, and D. A. Tryk, “TiO2 photocatalysis and related surface phenomena,” Dec. 15, 2008. doi: 10.1016/j.surfrep.2008.10.001.
I. Elhamdi et al., “Experimental and modeling study of ZnO:Ni nanoparticles for near-infrared light emitting diodes,” RSC Adv., vol. 12, no. 21, pp. 13074-13086, Apr. 2022, doi: 10.1039/d2ra00452f.
R. Nawaz et al., “Green Synthesis of ZnO and Black TiO2 Materials and Their Application in Photodegradation of Organic Pollutants,” ACS Omega, vol. 8, no. 39, pp. 36076-36087, Oct. 2023, doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c04229.
S. Kumar, V. Kumar, C. S. Pathak, A. Mishra, M. K. Bansal, and R. S. Baghel, “A comprehensive review on ZnO wide-bandgap semiconductors: Materials engineering, properties, and emerging applications,” Results in Materials, vol. 30, Jun. 2026, doi: 10.1016/j.rinma.2026.100929.
V. Anitha, K. Poonkodi, S. Jayabal, E. Elakkiya, P. Gowtham, and S. Rajalakshmi, “A comprehensive review on ZnO/layered double hydroxide heterostructure as photocatalysts and photoelectrocatalysts for environmental remediation and clean energy,” Discover Chemistry, vol. 3, no. 1, p. 199, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.1007/s44371-026-00652-2.
S. Chakrabarti, P. Banerjee, P. Mitra, and A. Roy, “Zinc oxide-based nanomaterials for environmental applications,” in Handbook of Smart Photocatalytic Materials: Environment, Energy, Emerging Applications and Sustainability, Elsevier, 2020, pp. 73-107. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819049-4.00009-X.
A. R. Bhapkar and S. Bhame, “A review on ZnO and its modifications for photocatalytic degradation of prominent textile effluents: Synthesis, mechanisms, and future directions,” J. Environ. Chem. Eng., vol. 12, no. 3, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.jece.2024.112553.
E. D. Fakhrutdinova, A. V. Volokitina, S. A. Kulinich, D. A. Goncharova, T. S. Kharlamova, and V. A. Svetlichnyi, “Plasmonic Nanocomposites of ZnO-Ag Produced by Laser Ablation and Their Photocatalytic Destruction of Rhodamine, Tetracycline and Phenol,” Materials, vol. 17, no. 2, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.3390/ma17020527.
D. Zhang, Z. Li, and K. Sugioka, “Laser ablation in liquids for nanomaterial synthesis: Diversities of targets and liquids,” Oct. 01, 2021, IOP Publishing Ltd. doi: 10.1088/2515-7647/ac0bfd.
A. K. H. Ferman, G. H. S. Jaber, and W. Mahmood, “Fabrication of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by pulsed laser ablation in liquid - PLAL and Study their physical Properties,” in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, Institute of Physics, Jun. 2021. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1900/1/012008.
R. A. Ismail, A. K. Ali, M. M. Ismail, and K. I. Hassoon, “Preparation and characterization of colloidal ZnO nanoparticles using nanosecond laser ablation in water,” Applied Nanoscience (Switzerland), vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 45-49, May 2011, doi: 10.1007/s13204-011-0006-3.
T. H. Flemban, “Synthesis, characterization, and analysis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using varying pulsed laser ablation energies in liquid,” J. Exp. Nanosci., vol. 18, no. 1, 2023, doi: 10.1080/17458080.2023.2175817.
B. Flores, M. Guzman, O. Chumpitaz, S. Flores, A. Rodriguez, and J. E. Herrera, “Crystallographic and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles prepared by two different methods,” Appl. Phys. A Mater. Sci. Process., vol. 131, no. 4, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.1007/s00339-025-08431-z.
K. Wu, B. Zhao, C. Yang, Q. Wang, W. Liu, and H. Zhou, “ZnCo2O4/ZnO induced lithium deposition in multi-scaled carbon/nickel frameworks for dendrite-free lithium metal anode,” Journal of Energy Chemistry, vol. 43, pp. 16-23, Apr. 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.jechem.2019.07.010.
V. Nedelkovski, M. Radovanović, and M. Antonijević, “Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Crystal Violet Using ZnO-Based Nanomaterials and Optimization Possibilities: A Review,” ChemEngineering, vol. 9, no. 6, p. 120, Nov. 2025, doi: 10.3390/chemengineering9060120.
J. Schneider et al., “Understanding TiO2photocatalysis: Mechanisms and materials,” Oct. 08, 2014, American Chemical Society. doi: 10.1021/cr5001892.
V. Nedelkovski, M. Radovanović, and M. Antonijević, “Advances in Photocatalytic Degradation of Crystal Violet Using ZnO-Based Nanomaterials and Optimization Possibilities: A Review,” Dec. 01, 2025, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). doi: 10.3390/chemengineering9060120.
