Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> This study demonstrates the Indium- addition effect on the physical properties of ZnO-based nanoparticles as well as its use for the Crystal Violet (CV) photocatalytic activity. For ZnO nanoparticles preparation ends, <italic>Artimisia vularis</italic> extract is used as the green precursor with Zinc nitrate hexahydrate. The Indium-atoms are then introduced into the ZnO at a 5 <italic>a</italic> t % concentration using Indium-nitrate salt as a dopant precursor. Consequently, the physical properties of the Indium-doped ZnO (5In-ZnO) nanocomposites are studied. The crystal structure through <italic>X-ray diffraction</italic> and Raman spectroscopy analyses of both prepared pure (P-ZnO) and 5In-ZnO nanoparticles reveal their hexagonal wurtzite configuration. The FTIR spectroscopy analysis confirms the Zn-O functional chemical group for both preparations. The morphological SEM and TEM analyses show a heterogeneous grain shape structure, and an agglomeration character respectively for the 5In-ZnO nanocomposites. The optical properties through the UV-vis absorbance analysis indicate a minimal blue shift accompanied with a band gap reduction energy from 3.24 to 3.22 eV when Indium atoms are being incorporated. Two characteristic emission peaks have been displayed through the photoluminescence (PL) analysis for both preparations where the visible one at 568 nm in the 5In-ZnO is stronger than to that of the P-ZnO located at 566 nm. This observation indicates an increase in the point-defects concentration inducing a weak ferromagnetism for both synthesized nanocomposites. The 5In-ZnO photocatalyst reached 99.9% decolourization of the CV under UV-irradiation after 25 min. The photomineralization has attained 95% based on COD after 300 min of irradiation. </p>