Facile synthesis of NiSe-ZnO nanocomposites for enhanced photocatalysis and wastewater remediation.

In this study, NiSe nanocubes, ZnO rods, and their composites were prepared by simple chemical methods to investigate their photocatalytic response and antibacterial activity. The optimal concentration of NiSe nanocubes was explored for enhanced photocatalytic performance by varying its percentage in the NiSe-ZnO composites. The findings suggested that the optical response of ZnO was significantly improved and shifted towards visible region by incorporating NiSe as a co-catalyst. The photocatalytic properties of NiSe, ZnO, and NiSe-ZnO composites were assessed under visible light by using methylene blue (MB) as a model pollutant. The results showed that the optimized composite containing 75% NiSe with ZnO exhibited outstanding photocatalytic efficiency of 97%. The degradation of MB dye by NiSe, ZnO, and their composites followed the pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics (Langmuir-Hinshelwood model). Furthermore, the prepared NiSe-ZnO composite displayed exceptional reusability and stability over a number of cycles, demonstrating its practical applicability. This research presents unique findings, showcasing the comparative antibacterial performance of NiSe, ZnO, and NiSe-ZnO nanocomposites against (). Of all the prepared photocatalysts, the 75% NiSe-ZnO nanocomposite revealed the best performance, exhibiting an inhibition zone of 28 mm.