Bio-molecule assisted aggregation of ZnWO₄ nanoparticles (NPs) into chain-like assemblies: Material for high performance supercapacitor and as catalyst for benzyl alcohol oxidation

ZnWO₄ nanoparticles (NPs) that are assembled and aggregated together as chain-like morphology have been synthesized via the reaction of Zn(II) salt solution with sodium tungstate in the presence of the DNA scaffold under 5 min of microwave heating. The reaction parameters have been tuned to control the size of the individual particles and diameter of the chains. The significance of different reaction parameters and specific growth mechanism for the formation of particles is elaborated. The DNA-ZnWO₄ nanoassemblies have been used in two potential applications for the first time, namely, supercapacitor and catalysis studies. Supercapacitor study revealed that DNA-ZnWO₄ nanoassemblies exhibited good electrochemical properties having high specific capacitance value ∼72 F/g at 5 mV s^-1, and electrodes possessed a good cyclic stability with more than 1000 consecutive times of cycling. Catalysis studies have been done for benzyl alcohol oxidation, and it was observed that DNA-ZnWO₄ nanoassemblies having smaller diameter gives better catalytic efficiency compared to other morphology. This is further authenticated from their BET surface area analysis. In the future, the self-assembled DNA-ZnWO₄ nanoassemblies could be a promising candidate for the synthesis of other mixed metal oxides and should be applicable in various emerging fields like Li ion batteries or photocatalysis, or as luminescent materials.