• • Zn SAs@GO achieves an 82.5% reduction in Zn dosage while increasing crosslinking density by 6.6% compared to commercial ZnO, directly addressing EU Aquatic Acute 1 hazard classification and raw material cost pressures.
• • The Zn–O bond length of 2.03 Å in Zn SAs@GO confers moderate binding energy, enabling controlled release of Zn2+ ions that accelerate vulcanization kinetics and improve crosslink network formation.
• • Homogeneous atomic dispersion of Zn on GO yields near-100% atom utilization efficiency, eliminating the aggregation and surface-energy limitations of nano-ZnO and ensuring consistent vulcanization performance.
• • The Zn SAs@GO/NR composites exhibit faster vulcanization rates and enhanced mechanical properties, demonstrating a scalable route for industrial rubber production with reduced environmental footprint.