Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanoparticles prepared by biological method.

Zinc oxide have been produced via a simple green method from zinc nitrate and leaf extract aqueous solutions. Prepared ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated by employing through UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. The present investigation, confirmed the estimated band gap 3.51eV and the PL intensity at 402nm in visible region are dependent upon the geometrical shape and size of the ZnO NPs. The TEM micrograph and XRD pattern confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO NPs. The presence of functional groups and the chemical bonding are confirmed by FTIR spectra. EDS shows that the highly pure ZnO nanostructures. Moreover, the catalytic activity of synthesized ZnO in the reduction of methylene blue was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The effects of process conditions on the morphology and size of ZnO have been found from FE-SEM and TEM analyses, respectively.

Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Solanum nigrum leaf extract and their antibacterial activity.

In the present investigation, we have described the green biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) by using Solanum nigrum as capping agent. The functionalization of ZnO particles through S. nigrum leaf extract mediated bioreduction of ZnO was investigated through UV-Vis DRS, photoluminescence (PL), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and antibacterial activities. UV-Vis-DRS studies revealed that the indirect band gap 3.38 eV and photoluminescence study reveals the blue emission at 402, 447, 469 and 483 nm and the green emission at 529 nm respectively. In addition, the synthesized NPs are wurtzite hexagonal structure with an average grain size lies between 20 and 30 nm were found from XRD analysis. Further, FT-IR spectra revealed the functional groups and the presence of protein as the stabilizing agent for surrounding the ZnO NPs. The diameter of the NPs in the range of 20-30 nm was found from FE-SEM study. TEM analysis was investigated the ZnO NPs as a quasi-spherical in shape and their diameter at around 29.79 nm. Finally, the current study has clearly demonstrated that the particle size variations and surface area to volume ratios of ZnO NPs are responsible for significant higher antibacterial activities. Further, the present investigation suggests that ZnO NPs has the potential applications for various medical and industrial fields so, that the investigation is so useful and helpful to the scientific communities.