Synthesis and Characterization of Gold Nanoparticles (Au-NPs) using aqueous extract of Lemongrass

Abstract

Biological method was used to synthesize gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) using HAuCl4, double distilled water (D.D.W), and lemongrass extract. The change in the color of the solution from yellow to red, after aqueous lemongrass extract was added, indicated the formation of Au-NPs. Different techniques were used to characterize the prepared Au-NPs. The X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy were used to analyse the structural properties of the Au-NPs. The crystallite size of Au-NPs was found to be 12nm using the Debye–Scherrer’s formula. TEM analysis was used to examine the triangular and spherical shaped Au-NPs, and the average particle size was found to be 13 nm. The optical properties of the nanoparticles were analysed using the photoluminescence emission (PL) spectroscopy and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. An absorption peak at 543 nm was obtained from the analysis. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the functional groups in the leaves of the lemongrass that are responsible for reducing the gold ions to Au-NPs, and stabilizing the nanoparticles.