Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using Azolla pinnata plant extracts

Plant extracts have recently drawn attention in the field of nanotechnology for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Current nanotechnology research uses a lot of chemicals, which are potential threat to both environmental and public health. Therefore, the need to find more environmental friendly procedures for the production of nanoparticles arises. This research is done in with the purpose of synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNP) from Azolla pinnata plant extracts while studying their characterization properties. Azolla pinnata plants has been used because of its rich source of polyphenolic compounds used for the reduction and capping of silver nanoparticles. The present work focuses on extraction of compounds from Azolla pinnata plants using Soxhlet extraction method. The plant extract was mixed with 1 mM silver nitrate solution and it can be observed that the colour changed into dark brown indicated the reduction process of Ag+ to Ag0. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were then being characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and SEM. UV-Vis spectrophotometer showed peak at 425 nm due to the excited plasmon surface resonance vibrations. FTIR spectra analysis reveals the functional groups presence in the silver nanoparticles. SEM study showed the morphological structure of the synthesized silver nanoparticles which were irregular spherical shape with average size of less than 80 nm. As a result of the research, it is determined that local plants of Azolla pinnata is an alternative to a safer, more eco-friendly alternative of synthesizing silver nanoparticles.