Abstract
In this preliminary study, we demonstrate an environmentally friendly process for the green synthesis of gold nanometre scale particles using the leaf extract from an indigenous Australian plant Eucalyptus macrocarpa as both the stabilising agent and the reducing agent. The synthesis process is straightforward, clean and non-toxic. It also has the advantages of being performed at room temperature and does not need complex processing equipment. Formation of the gold nanometre sized particles was confirmed and characterised by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The antibacterial activity of the synthesised gold particles was also quantified using the sensitivity method of Kirby–Bauer.
Highlights
Metallic nanometre scale particles, in particular colloidal gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), have attracted considerable interest in many fields such as medicine, biotechnology, materials science, photonics and electronics [1,2,3,4]
This preliminary study reports the green synthesis of Au NPs by the biological reduction of aqueous AuCl4− using the leaf extract from E. macrocarpa (Mottlecah)
UV-visible spectrum analysis for the solutions indicated that the maximum absorbance occurred at 570 nm, which is similar to the maximum absorbance of 573 nm reported by Philip using the leaf extract from Hibiscus rosa sinensis and the maximum absorbance of 560 nm reported by Singh et al using the leaf extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale) [9, 37]
Summary
In particular colloidal gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), have attracted considerable interest in many fields such as medicine, biotechnology, materials science, photonics and electronics [1,2,3,4]. The size, shape and surface morphology can have a profound influence on the chemical, physical, optical and electronic properties of nano-.
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