Size-Controlled Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles using Dual Functional Plant Leaf Extract at Room Temperature

ABSTRACT

A simple synthesis of size-controlled silver nanoparticles using plant leaf extract at room temperature is described in this report. The reaction of AgNO₃ with the leaf extract of Azadirachta indica in different concentrations and different reaction pH yields silver nanoparticles with control over size and distribution. The sizes of the as-synthesized silver nanoparticles were in the range between 10 to 63 nm and the size of nanoparticles were attributed to the concentration of leaf extract and pH of the reaction solution. The as-synthesized silver nanoparticles showed an excellent level of stability in water, and the nanoparticles formed in solution between pH 7 and pH 10.5 were not only stable in water, but also in NaCl solution and in different pH. The nanoparticles were characterized using various techniques.

KEYWORDS:

• green synthesis
• leaf extract
• silver nanoparticles
• size-control
• stability
• TEM

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to thank Ganab Jaafar, Nancy-Université, Faculté des Sciences, Vandœuvre les Nancy, France for his assistance in TEM analysis. Authors thank Rahul Mahajan, NIPER for his assistance in Zeta potential analysis. The authors also thank Dr. K. Swaminathan, Head, Department Microbial Biotechnology, Bharathiar University for the UV-Vis spectral analysis.