The ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared by thermal decomposition of zinc oxalate precursor ZnC2O4.2H2O synthesized by a simple solution‐free mechanochemical method. Thermogravimetric analysis/Differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) studies of oxalate precursor showed it to undergo two step decomposition yielding zinc oxide nanoparticles. The ZnO NPs have been thoroughly characterized by Powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV‐Visible techniques. XRD pattern showed that nanoparticles present hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO with high crystallinity. The Rietveld's refinement of the XRD pattern has shown the average grain size of the as synthesized nanoparticles to be 13 nm. The photocatalytic activity of as prepared ZnO NPs studied using Methyl Orange (MO) as probe molecule have effected ∼90 % degradation of 0.045 mM of MO in 100 min at catalyst load of 1.5 g L−1. As prepared ZnO NPs photocatalyst are appreciably stable and reusable. The antibacterial activity study of ZnO NPs assayed against Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and Gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosaandEnterobacter aerogenes by MIC method has shown that as prepared ZnO NPs constitute effective antibacterial agents.

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