Bio-inspired synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Hibiscus Tiliaceus L. flower extracts for improved optical characteristics

Abstract

In this work, we report a simple, facile, environment friendly and green approach to synthesize silver nanoparticles using aqueous flower extracts of Hibiscus Tiliaceus L. The morphology (shape/size) and crystal structure of as-synthesized silver nanoparticles (NPs) were determined by transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. The UV–Vis spectroscopy was used to record the surface plasmon resonance peak, while spectro-fluorophotometry was used to examine the fluorescence emission spectra of silver NPs. Moreover, the optical nonlinearities of silver NPs were investigated using z-scan technique with low power argon laser beam at wavelengths 488 nm and 514 nm in continuous-wave regime and at 532 nm in the pulsed laser regime. Our results indicate that the nonlinear absorption in silver NPs is reverse saturation absorption of the order of 10–3 cm/W and the negative nonlinear refractive index was determined as of the order of 10–8 cm2/W. Moreover, the optical nonlinear properties were used to demonstrate optical limiting abilities of the synthesized silver NPs. The results presented in this study indicate that bio-synthesized silver NPs are excellent candidates as a nonlinear material and can be widely used for waveguide applications.