Fig. 1

Study the mild-simple synthesis procedure and chemical characterization of nano-composite (DE-ZnO). A Illustration of the mild-simple synthesis procedure of DE-ZnO in middle of the graphic and surrounding with the property characterization. B UV–visible absorption spectra for ZnO nanomaterials (ZnO-S, commercially available ZnO nanomaterials; ZnO-C (~ 100 nm) and ZnO-C (~ 5000 nm)). C SEM images of ZnO-S (~ 300 nm). D Zeta potential of the ZnO nanomaterials. E SEM image of the precursor diatomaceous earth (DE). F SEM images of the product semiconductor nano composites DE-ZnO, inside G. is the amplification SEM image of the DE-ZnO surface. H FTIR spectra of DE-ZnO nanocomposites and pure DE. I Energy-dispersive X-ray of DE-ZnO at different modification ratios of ZnO:DE = 0.25:1; 0.5:1; 1:1; 2:1; 3:1; and 4:1, the percentage of ZnO are 2.04%, 4.38%, 6.19%, 10.61%, 13.74% and 23.85%, respectively. J Zeta potentials of DE-ZnO composites depend on the different ratios of ZnO on DE (ZnO:DE = 0.25:1, 0.5:1, 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1). Error bars indicate the standard error of the mean based on at least three independent experiments