The single-step green synthesis has been successfully established to prepare a bi-phase structure of Zn/ZnO nanoparticles using laser ablation in a liquid medium. Nd: YAG laser with the wavelength of 1064 nm was employed to perform the laser ablation in pure water and Pometia pinnata (P. pinnata) leaf extract, with the leaf, were extracted in pure water and some concentration of ethanol. ZnO nanoparticles can be obtained via laser ablation in pure water, while the usage of P. pinnata leaf extract as the solution has caused the appearance of the bi-phase Zn/ZnO nanostructure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicates the appearance of Zn peaks alongside with ZnO peaks with the inclusion of P. pinnata leaf extract. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images show the change of shape from the rod-like shape into a spherical shape and smaller size spherical shape of Zn/ZnO nanoparticles in comparison with ZnO. Noticeable change of UV–visible spectrum emerges as the water was substituted by P. pinnata leaf extract. The zeta potential of Zn/ZnO prepared with P. pinnata extracted in water, with the value of − 18.9 V, reduces down to − 43.5 and − 41.1 for 20–40% of ethanol concentration, respectively. The as-prepared ZnO and Zn/ZnO colloidal samples were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against two strains Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Zn/ZnO sample shows a more substantial antibacterial effect in comparison with pure ZnO, no bacteria alive after 12 and 24 h’ treatment for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively.
The formation and antibacterial activity of Zn/ZnO nanoparticle produced in Pometia pinnata leaf extract solution using a laser ablation technique