Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Mimusops elengi Extract of Raw Fruits and Characterization of PVA-Silver Polymer Nanocomposite Films

Abstract

The present work concerns on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles at 25 ºC using raw fruits extract of Bakul (Mimusops elengi) tree via chemical reduction route development of poly(vinyl alcohol) PVA-silver polymer nanocomposite films. The nanocomposite films were subjected to characterization by UV-visible, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and thermal studies. The UV-visible spectrum shows a characteristic broad absorption band observed near 465 nm suggesting presence of silver nanoparticles in polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) film. The vibrational band shift of –OH group of poly(vinyl alcohol) in the presence of nanoparticle designated the chemical interaction between –OH group of poly(vinyl alcohol) and silver nanoparticles. The FESEM study confirmed that PVA is not only acted as a capping agent, but also a cross-linking agent. X-ray diffraction study shows that the existence of AgNPs in the poly nanocomposite film and nanoaparticles are crystalline in nature. Thermal studies suggest that the enhanced thermal stability is because of the good packing of the polar crystallites in β-PVA composites as compared to the non-polar α-phase of neat poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA).