Green route synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles mediated by Melia azedarach for microbiological applications

Abstract

Green synthesis technique of nanoparticles has advantages over physical and chemical methods due to its simplicity in preparation, environment friendly nature and less time consuming. We report a green approach for the synthesis of zincoxide nanoparticles using leave extract from melia azedarach. Melia azedarach plant has been traditionally famous for its antibacterial properties. The plant extract acts as reducing and capping agent, while zinc nitrate hexahydrate [Zn(NO3)2.6H2O] was used as a precursor. The formation of ZnO nanoparticles was observed by the color changes during the reaction. Structural, optical and morphological properties of ZnO nanoparticles were determined using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform spectroscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirms the formation of wurtzite hexagonal structure NPs with significantly small average crystallite size of 7.0 nm. The energy band gap determined by UV–vis spectroscopy was measured between 2.9 eV to 5.4 eV. The antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles was tested against E. coli bacteria and significant results were obtained. The anti-bacterial study proved that green-rout prepared ZnO nanoparticles are the best choice for future research concerning antibacterial activity.