Silk sericin a bio-template for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and characterization

Abstract

The research paper describes the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Bombyxmorisilk sericin (SS). The formation of silver nanoparticles in the SS solution was confirmed by using UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of the SS-AgNPs colloids showed surface Plasmon resonance in the wavelength range of 418-425 nm confirms the silver nanoparticles formation. The XRD scan revealed the nanocrystalline phase of silver with FCC crystal structure. The TEM images shown the formed silver nanoparticles are spherical in shape with smooth edges and diameter of the particles around 5-20 nm. The DLS results indicated the average size of the nanoparticles is slightly bigger in size compared with TEM values. All the results support the sericin as a prominent bio-template for reduction of silver ions to silver neutral atoms.