Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using psidium guajava leaf extract

Abstract

Nanomaterials are attracting a lot of attention nowadays as they show different chemical and physical properties that are dependent on their size and shape. Different techniques have been used for synthesis metal nanoparticles but the use of plants for synthesis of nanoparticles could be advantageous over other environmentally methods as this eliminates the cost and the non toxicity is main feature. Here a simple biosynthesis approach was applied and gold nanoparticles were synthesized by using psidium guajava leaf extract as reducing and capping agent. Two different parameters were studied which are the metal ion concentration and volume of plant broth. The synthesis of gold nanoparticles was also monitored as function of reaction time. The formation of gold nanoparticles was monitored by UV-Vis spectrophotometer and the size of particles was confirmed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. TEM analysis showed that the AuNPs were mostly spherical in shape with an average size of 15 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy that the active biomolecules present in the Psidium guajava leaf extract act as capping and stabilizing agent for the AuNPs.