Abstract
Aqueous methanol (water:methanol 20:80) extract of leaves (AMEL) of Indian curry leaf plant was found to be highly efficient in the rapid and controlled synthesis of stable and fluorescent monometallic (Ag and Au) and also bimetallic (Ag/Au alloy) nanoparticles with wide spectrum of task specific morphologies under sonochemical condition. The nanoparticles synthesized by the present economically viable and environment-friendly protocol showed characteristic fluorescence activity. This was exploited in the fluorometric sensing of the dithiocarbamate pesticide, Mancozeb in aqueous medium. The surface chemistry of these nanoparticles was extensively studied to understand their sensing activity. The naturally occurring flurophoric/chromophoric compounds (carbazole alkaloids and polyhydroxy flavonoid) present in AMEL instilled (in situ) strong and characteristic fluorescent behavior to the synthesized nanoparticles which opened up their utility as the fluorometric sensors and detectors for pesticides in aqueous medium.
Highlights
Energy, environment, and human health have emerged as the main concerns in the research arena, and in all aspects of our lives
We have found that AMEL itself along with its active chemical constituents controlled the surface chemistry of the synthesized NPs and imposed specific fluorescent behavior to them which opened up their possible utility as the eco-friendly and synthesizable fluorometric sensors and detectors for hazardous dithiocarbamate pesticides/fungicide, such as Mancozeb (Fig. 1), which are extensively used in agriculture industries in aqueous medium [21, 22]
Formation and growth of monometallic (Ag and Au) and bimetallic (Ag/Au) NPs synthesized by AMEL and its chemical constituents as green multifunctional agents (GMAs)
Summary
Environment, and human health have emerged as the main concerns in the research arena, and in all aspects of our lives In this connection, nanomaterials (e.g., metal nanoparticles) with their unique structure-dependent properties are emerging as a good promise in offering solutions in each of these priority areas. Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are being explored enormously in recent time because of their distinctive catalytic, electronic, optical, and structural properties These NPs are being explored extensively to develop novel catalysts, sensors/biosensors, nanoelectronic devices, and medical diagnostic tools. The usefulness of these NPs depends critically on their morphology, composition (alloy or core–shell), and surface structure [1,2,3]. The design and development of simple, but energy-efficient, economic, and eco-friendly synthetic protocols for metal NPs with tailor-made structures, capable of serving specific task and biocompatibility, are the highly cherished goals for the researchers working in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
