Chitosan-Zinc Oxide hybrid composite for enhanced dye degradation and antibacterial activity

In this report, chitosan (CS) encapsulated zinc oxide (ZnO) hybrid composite was prepared by chemical precipitation method. The CS-ZnO composite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential. The composite exhibited high photocatalytic activity as evident from the degradation of methylene blue dye under UV irradiation. Approximately, 64% of the dye was degraded under UV irradiation within 3 h. In addition, the CS-ZnO composite showed excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli as measured by colony forming units. Based on the data of present investigation, the composite being a biocompatible, eco-friendly, and low-cost material could find potential applications in various fields.