An environment friendly synthesis and characterization of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles using Mentha viridis leaf extract

Abstract

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO Nps) are one of the most predominant inorganic nanoparticles, which have diverse applications in the field of cosmetic, coating, medicine and electronic sensors. Morphology and particle size of nanoparticles mainly control its advantages and drawbacks in applications. In this study, an environment friendly and economic synthesis of ZnO Nps was carried out using Mentha viridis leaf extract as reducing and stabilizing agent to investigate the morphology, particle size and other properties of the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles. A series of characterization methods: ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) were used to confirm the characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles. It was evident from the XRD analysis that ZnO Nps possess a polycrystalline hexagonal structure (as per the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) number #98-002-9272) with an average crystallite size of 32.3 nm. The spectra showing peaks in the EDX data indicated the presence of Zn (50.35 %) and O (49.65 %) in higher percentage and FE-SEM analysis revealed the morphology and Average Length and diameter of the nanorods are 156 nm and 48 nm respectively of the synthesized ZnO Nps. The analysis of the UV visible absorbance spectrum revealed the absorbance band peak at 372nm and confirmed the presence of ZnO Nps. From all these analyses, it is evident that Mentha viridis leaf extract can act as a potential reducing agent in the green synthesize ZnO Nps.