DNA-Mediated Fast Synthesis of Shape-Selective ZnO Nanostructures and Their Potential Applications in Catalysis and Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Shape-selective ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with various morphologies have been synthesized within 2 min of microwave heating by the reaction of Zn­(NO₃)₂·2H₂O with NaOH in the presence of DNA. The size and shape of the materials can be tuned by controlling the molar ratio of Zn­(II) salt to DNA and by altering the other reaction parameters. The role of DNA and other reaction parameters for the formation and growth mechanisms of different morphologies has been elaborated. The potentiality of the DNA–ZnO NPs has been tested in the catalysis reaction for the decomposition of toxic KMnO₄, and the effect of different morphologies on the catalysis reaction has been examined. Moreover, the suitability of the materials is also tested for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications, and it was observed that all the morphologies of ZnO NPs can be used as a potential anode material in DSSC applications.