A state-of-the-art review on green synthesis and modifications of ZnO nanoparticles for organic pollutants decomposition and CO2 conversion

• Applications of ZnO in both the degradation of organic pollutants and CO 2 conversion. • Eco-friendly methods for producing ZnO nanoparticles. • Various techniques to enhance catalytic performance of ZnO-based materials. • Underlying mechanisms of catalytic activity of ZnO in the studied processes. • Challenges and prospective of using ZnO-based materials in the future. Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising technology to tackle the escalating environmental pollution. Zinc oxide (ZnO), by the virtue of its excellent properties, offers immense potential for simultaneous CO 2 conversion and organic pollutant degradation. The current review comprehensively scrutinizes the green synthesis routes,…