This innovative article provides a detailed description of the successful biosynthesis of zinc nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using an aqueous extract of Algerian Date Syrup, also known as molasses. A meticulous process was carried out to determine the optimal calcination temperature for ZnO-NPs, a crucial step in the preparation of these nanoparticles. The study was further extended by creating ZnO/rGOx nanocomposites through a hydrothermal method, varying the concentrations of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) at 5%, 10%, and 15%. The characteristics of the nanocomposites were thoroughly explored, encompassing chemical, optical, and morphological aspects, using sophisticated analysis techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV DRS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These analyses provided an in-depth understanding of the structure and properties of the nanocomposites. The centerpiece of this study is the evaluation of the photocatalytic degradation capacity of ZnO-NPs and ZnO/rGOx nanocomposites. These materials have demonstrated their ability to act as cost-effective and environmentally friendly photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. Experiments on methylene blue degradation under UV irradiation were conducted, yielding impressive results: a degradation efficiency of 86.6% was achieved in 140 min using 1 g/L of ZnO-NPs, and this rate reached 100% with the ZnO/rGO catalyst in the same time frame, highlighting its superiority as a photocatalyst. Furthermore, this study examined the variables affecting the photocatalysis experiment, including the solution’s pH and the amount of catalyst. The results revealed that the ZnO/rGO photocatalyst reached its optimal efficiency under neutral pH conditions and at a concentration of 1 g/L, providing crucial information for practical use of these materials. This enriched article highlights the promising potential of ZnO-NPs and ZnO/rGOx nanocomposites as efficient photocatalysts for methylene blue degradation, paving the way for significant environmental applications in wastewater treatment.

A novel organic–inorganic ionic crystal 2,4-diamino-6-phenyl-1,3,5-triaziniumperchlorate (C₉H₁₀N₅⁺·ClO₄⁻) was synthesized via the reaction of benzoguanamine with perchloric acid. Its structure was affined by single-crystal XRD and characterized by UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopies. It crystallizes in a monoclinic system, with P2₁/c space group and lattice parameters of a = 13.7975 (6), b = 5.0711 (2), c = 16.6471 (9) Å, and β = 91.869 (2) ° and a cell volume of V = 1164.15 (9) ų. Additionally, the 3D-supramolecular network illustrates a supramolecular layer-by-layer arrangement. The two-dimensional fingerprint plots and Hirshfeld surface analysis showed that H∙∙∙O/O∙∙∙H dominates the interactions, contributing with 33.4%. The UV-Vis spectrum revealed two strong absorption bands at 204 and 247nm, indicating π→π* and n→π* electronic transitions, respectively, which were corroborated by TD-DFT calculations. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed key vibrational modes consistent with triazinium cations and perchlorate anions, demonstrating strong agreement with the affined structure. TGA/DTG demonstrated enhanced thermal stability until 290 °C compared to benzoguanamine, with a four-stage degradation profile, illustrating robust thermal resilience. Moreover, BSSE-corrected interaction-energy calculations revealed that the charge-assisted cation–anion N-H···O hydrogen bond is the main cohesive force in the crystal, with a strong stabilization energy of −248.8 kJ mol⁻¹, while π-associated contacts mainly contribute to layered supramolecular packing. C₉H₁₀N₅⁺·ClO₄⁻ exhibits enhanced NLO properties in comparison to urea, due to the cooperative effect of ionic hydrogen bonding and ordered π-stacking.