title: Microwave assisted facile green synthesis of silver and gold nanocatalysts using the leaf extract of Aerva lanata.
abstract: Herein, we report a simple microwave assisted method for the green synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles by the reduction of aqueous metal salt solutions using leaf extract of the medicinal plant Aerva lanata. UV-vis., FTIR, XRD, and HR-TEM studies were conducted to assure the formation of nanoparticles. XRD studies clearly confirmed the crystalline nature of the synthesized nanoparticles. From the HR-TEM images, the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were found to be more or less spherical and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were observed to be of different morphology with an average diameter of 18.62nm for silver and 17.97nm for gold nanoparticles. In order to evaluate the effect of microwave heating upon rate of formation, the synthesis was also conducted under ambient condition without the assistance of microwave radiation and the former method was found to be much faster than the later. The synthesized nanoparticles were used as nanocatalysts in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol by NaBH4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, St. George's College, Aruvithura, Kottayam 686 122, Kerala, India. Electronic address: sibyjoseph4@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Siby
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam 686 560, Kerala, India. Electronic address: beenamscs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Beena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mathew
mesh_terms: D027703:Amaranthaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002384:Catalysis; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves; D010316:Particle Size; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold
keywords: Aerva lanata; Gold nanoparticle; Green; Microwave; Nanocatalyst; Silver nanoparticle