“Green” synthesis and electrochemical studies of B/nZVCu-M nanoparticles using Lawsonia Inermis

Abstract

This study assesses the physical and electrochemical changes of bimetallic nano zero Valent Cu-Metal nanoparticles supported on bentonite (B/nZVCu-M NPs). The biosynthesis was carried out by using a green reduction method using plant extract which proves to be a quick, cheap, efficient and ecological method. In this study, Lawsonia Inermis extract was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The overall reaction time was noted to be ± 7 min. B/nZVCu-M NPs were optically characterized by using PXRD(Powder X-Ray Diffraction), SEM(Scanning Electron Microscopy) & EDX(Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis), FTIR(Fourier Transform Infrared Spectoscopy), DRS(Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy) and BET(Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) Surface Area whilst CV(Cyclic Voltammetry), SWV(Squarewave voltammetry), Chronocoulometry, cathodic and anodic peak, EIS(Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy) were used to ascertain their electrochemical activity and properties. The characterization results showed the average size of nanoparticles to be within the size range of 17–21 nm in agreement with SEM and PXRD. A comparative increase in surface area of 52.790 m2/g with pore size 3.419 nm for B/nZVCu-Ni NPs. The potency of the bimetallic nanoparticles prepared as biosensors were further examined by electrochemical studies which revealed B/nZVCu-Ni NPs as the elite material.