Green synthesis and characterization of Zirconium Oxide with antimicrobial activities

Abstract

Green synthesis methods have garnered considerable attention due to their eco-friendly and sustainable nature. In this study, we report a green synthesis approach to fabricate Zirconium Oxide nanoparticles (ZrO2 NPs) using cinnamon extract and citric acid as reducing and stabilizing agents. The green synthesis process was carried out through a sol-gel reaction method. The obtained ZrO2 NPs were characterized using various analytical techniques, including UV-Vis, XRD and FTIR. The characterization results confirmed the successful synthesis of crystalline ZrO2 NPs with a narrow size distribution and the presence of functional groups from cinnamon and citric acid on the NP surface. The synthesized ZrO2 NPs were further investigated for their antimicrobial properties against bacteria and fungi. The results demonstrated potent antibacterial and antifungal activities of the green-synthesized ZrO2 NPs. Overall; this study showcases a green and sustainable approach to synthesize ZrO2 NPs using cinnamon extract and citric acid as reducing and stabilizing agents. The resulting ZrO2 NPs exhibited promising antibacterial and antifungal properties, making them potential candidates for various biomedical and environmental applications, particularly in the development of novel antimicrobial agents and coatings.