Review on the improvement of the photocatalytic and antibacterial activities of ZnO

Photocatalytic degradation is an effective method to alleviate environmental pollution caused by organic pollutants. In this work, research progress on the application of photocatalytic degradation and the antibacterial properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials is reviewed. The visible-light photo-response of ZnO has been expanded by employing various strategies, such as enhancing the photocatalytic activity of ZnO through modification of its electronic and optical properties, doping metal/nonmetal atoms, depositing noble metals, constructing heterojunctions, and coupling carbon materials, because the wide band gap of ZnO likely restricts its applications in photocatalysis. Although ZnO nanomaterials are commonly used for antibacterial applications, our understanding on the toxicity mechanisms of ZnO is limited. Some of the main toxicity mechanisms of this compound include reactive oxygen species generation, Zn2+ release, membrane dysfunction, and nanoparticle internalization into cells. Some of the main methods that improve antibacterial activities are coating inorganic or organic antimicrobial agents, doping ZnO, and tuning the size, morphological characteristics, and concentration of ZnO nanomaterials. This review aims to examine the current research progress on ZnO-based nanomaterials developed for the photocatalysis of organic contaminant degradation and antibacterial applications.