Facile Co-Precipitation Synthesis and Antibacterial Potential of ZNO Nanoparticles: Structural and Morphological Insights

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile co-precipitation method and systematically characterized to elucidate their structural, surface, and morphological features. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of phase-pure hexagonal wurtzite ZnO with an average crystallite size of ~18.7 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy identified Zn–O lattice vibrations and surface hydroxyl groups, while zeta potential (–27.3 mV) indicated moderate colloidal stability. Transmission electron microscopy revealed predominantly spherical nanoparticles in the 15–30 nm range with slight agglomeration. Antimicrobial evaluation demonstrated significant inhibitory effects against Gram-positive bacteria, highlighting the potential of ZnO nanoparticles as cost-effective antibacterial agents. These findings underscore their promise for applications in catalysis, sensing, optoelectronics, and biomedicine.