A Green Biogenic Approach For Synthesis of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Using Zingiber Officinale

Abstract

We report here the biosynthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale). The treatment of aqueous solution of AgNO3 and HAuCl4 with ginger leaf extract resulted in rapid formation of stable nanoparticles for both metals. The growth of nanoparticles is monitored by UV-vis spectrophotometer and complemented with characterization using Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Plausible mechanism for the formation of nanoscale and dfference in reduction time for gold and silver nanoparticle synthesis is discussed on the basis of pH. Transmission Electron Microscopy revealed the presence of polydisperse gold and silver nanoparticles with an average size of 10nm and 30.31nm respectively. X-ray diffraction studies corroborated that the biosynthesized nanoparticles are crystalline gold and silver. Furthermore, this green biogenic approach is rapid and simple alternative to chemical synthesis.