LAUSR

Abstract ZnO nanowire (NW), ZnO/CeO 2 solid solution nanowire (SSNW) and composite nanowire (CNW) were resulted by varying the proportions of CeO 2 , synthesized by bio-morphing. The nano sized cellulosic fibrils present inside the micro fiber bundles of banana (Musa Balbisiana Colla) pseudo stem were used as bio-morphing template. The high aspect ratio of NW imitates the internal morphology of the cellulosic micro fiber bundles (CMFB) used. Raw CMFB and synthesized NWs morphology, composition, crystallinity, band gap energy and functionalities were examined by FESEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, UV–visible DRS and FTIR respectively. The formation mechanism of NW within the natural CMFB also proposed with the help of TG-DTA. Reaction kinetics and mechanism of dye degradation of Direct Red dye (DRD) was investigated under UV and solar light irradiation, the effects of DRD concentration, catalyst dosage and pH were also explored using the synthesized SSNW. The degradation studies substantiated the enhanced photocatalytic degradation under solar light.