Biosynthesis and Characterization of Monodisperse Gold Nanoparticles using Mulberry Leaf Extract at Room Temperature

Abstract

In this research, spherical and small size gold nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a cost-effective, eco-friendly green approach using mulberry leaf extract as both reducing and stabilizing agent. The reducing potential of mulberry leaf extract was studied for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles without adding any external reducing agents. The formation of gold nanoparticles was confirmed by the change of color. The prepared gold nanoparticles were characterized by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared and powder X-ray diffraction. The absorbance peak which found at 560 nm in UV-vis spectroscopy demonstrated the generation of gold nanoparticles. The fourier transform infrared elucidated that the gold nanoparticles were capped with various functional groups from extracts, keeping them from agglomeration and oxidation. The X-ray diffraction results illustrated that the particles were highly crystalline in nature. The transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscope showed the particles were small and spherical. The effect of reaction temperature, amount of chloroauric acid solution and extracts was also investigated. The results demonstrated that these parameters play vital roles in the production of gold nanoparticles.