Bio‐Inspired, Canna indica Leaf Mediated Green Synthesis of Fe‐Incorporated ZnO Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic and Antibacterial Effects

ABSTRACT The conventional nanoparticle synthesis process often involves hazardous chemicals that are released into the environment. This practice stands in stark contrast to the principles of green chemistry, which advocate sustainable, environmentally friendly methods. By disregarding these principles, traditional methods raise significant concerns about environmental impact and safety. In contrast, bioinspired nanoparticle synthesis offers a safer, faster, and more sustainable alternative. This green approach not only reduces the need for toxic reagents but also helps to mitigate environmental pollution, making it a promising solution for advancing sustainable nanotechnology. In this investigation, a green synthetic approach was utilized to harvest zinc oxide (ZnO) and Fe‐incorporated ZnO nanoparticle (Fe@ZnO NPs) from Canna indica leaf extract. The products were confirmed using UV–vis, XRD, photoluminescence, FT‐IR, SEM, and HR‐TEM techniques. Fe@ZnO NPs exhibited a surface plasmon resonance peak at 305 nm, indicating a blue emission shift. The mean crystallite size of the prepared product was estimated to be 30 nm for Fe@ZnO and 28.9 nm for ZnO NPs. The photocatalytic activity of Fe@ZnO NPs was investigated against Rhodamine B, achieving a degradation percentage of 78.8%. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of ZnO and Fe@ZnO NPs against E. coli and S. aureus was evaluated. The zones of inhibition of ZnO against E. coli and S. aureus are 13 and 10 mm, respectively, whereas for Fe@ZnO, the zones of inhibition are 17.2 and 14.1 mm, respectively. The results showed significant photocatalytic and antibacterial activities in Fe@ZnO NPs.